Northrop Grumman-Built Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Successfully Launches to Extend Arctic Connectivity
August 13, 2024 | Northrop GrummanEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Space Norway’s two-satellite Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) constellation, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation, successfully launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
- In a historic partnership between Space Norway and the U.S. Space Force, ASBM marks the first time an operational U.S. military payload is hosted on an international commercial space mission.
- Northrop Grumman contributed critical components, including two U.S. Space Force Enhanced Polar System – Recapitalization (EPS-R) secure communication payloads, the Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) ground system, X-band and Ka-band payloads, two GEOStar-3 satellite buses, ground system for the GEOStar-3 satellites, systems integration and launch site integration operations.
- ASBM marks Northrop Grumman’s 48th mission using its GEOStar space vehicles, further establishing this satellite as a flight-proven and critical technology for commercial and military satellite communications missions
Northrop Grumman-Built Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Successfully Launches to Extend Arctic Connectivity
Two of Northrop Grumman’s GEOStar-3 satellites inside a clean room in Dulles, Virginia. These satellites are designed for geosynchronous missions but are highly adaptable and can operate in a variety of orbits, such as a highly elliptical orbit, for ASBM. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
Expert:
Rob Fleming, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Space Systems: “Northrop Grumman’s end-to-end mission expertise and proven ability to deliver cutting-edge technology on orbit enables our customers’ most challenging missions. Our team came together at every stage of design, test and integration to bring commercial broadband and protected military satellite communications to the Arctic for many years to come.”
Details on ASBM:
ASBM will operate in a highly elliptical orbit to provide secure and reliable communications in the critical Arctic region for both commercial and military communications. For this mission, Northrop Grumman provided the space vehicles and operating systems for power, propulsion, communications, command and data handling, thermal control and guidance and navigational control. Among the payloads are a U.S. Space Force EPS-R hosted payloads, X-band payloads for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Ka-band payloads for Viasat and a Norwegian Radiation Monitor payload provided by Norwegian company IDEAS for the European Commission. Northrop Grumman also provided two Satellite Control Systems, located in Tromsø and Bardufoss, Norway, for Space Norway to operate these missions.
Suggested Items
PI's New Expansion for Higher Electronics Manufacturing Capacities and Shorter Lead Times
11/20/2024 | PRNewswirePI, the market and technology leader for high-precision motion control, positioning technology, and piezo applications, has completed the construction of additional electronics production space at its Rosenheim, Germany site.
Orbex Welcomes Contract Extension and Additional Funding from ESA’s Boost! Programme
11/19/2024 | OrbexLeading orbital launch services company, Orbex has today welcomed the extension of its contract with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Boost! Programme and additional funding of €5.6 million.
L3Harris Delivers Optical System to NASA for Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
11/19/2024 | L3Harris TechnologiesL3Harris Technologies has delivered the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) to NASA that serves as the critical “eye” for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope by providing precise and stable imagery.
NRL Completes Development of Robotics Capable of Servicing Satellites, Enabling Resilience for the U.S. Space Infrastructure
11/18/2024 | NRLU.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) in partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) successfully completed development of a spaceflight qualified robotics suite capable of servicing satellites in orbit, Oct. 8.
RTX's Raytheon Awarded U.S. Army Contract for Wireless Power Beaming Technology
11/18/2024 | Raytheon TechnologiesRaytheon, an RTX, has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army to work on directed energy wireless power beaming capabilities that will distribute power across the battlefield, simplify logistics, and safeguard locations for U.S. troops.