Environmental data from outer space

Satellites provide important information for studying the global environment and monitoring environmental changes. By virtue of its aerospace activities, Kongsberg supplies equipment for satellites, carries them into outer space and downloads data from them, supplying virtually real-time satellite data and services to its customers.

Using satellite data, customers can rapidly detect oil spills at sea, locate dangerous algae growth along coastlines or identify snow melting and run off to prevent floods.

Carrying satellites into outer space

Ariane 5 is a powerful booster rocket used to launch satellites into outer space. In March 2002, the 12th Ariane 5 was launched, carrying the world's largest, most advanced Earth observation satellite ever, ENVISAT, into outer space. Kongsberg has supplied components for all the Ariane 5 booster rockets. Kongsberg also delivers equipment for the satellites per se. Kongsberg supplied an instrument for ENVISAT that provides data on the amount of oxygen and ozone in different layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Kongsberg also supplies advanced solar panels made of composite materials for advanced Earth observation  (ADM-Aeolus og GOCE).

Solar panel (ultra-light and rigid) made of a carbon fibre epoxy sandwich with an aluminium beehive core, ready for delivery from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to the Planck space probe.

Equipment for downloading environmental data

ENVISAT and all the other satellites in outer space can produce large volumes of data that can be useful for monitoring the atmosphere, oceans and land areas. However, this requires that we have equipment to download the satellite data. Kongsberg Spacetec has become a leading manufacturer of ground stations for receiving data from meteorological and earth observation satellites. Spacetec delivers ground stations to customers the world over. The company also supplies software for processing the flow of data from the satellites.

Supplying virtually real-time satellite data for environmental monitoring

The world's most state-of-the-art ground station for the reception of satellite data from satellites in polar orbit is located on Svalbard. Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) owns and operates KSAT Svalbard Station (SvalSat) and has the best conceivable geographical location for downloading data from satellites in polar orbit. These satellites orbit the earth 14 times a day. At 78 degrees north, SvalSat is the only station in the world that can communicate with the satellites on all 14 orbits. The auspicious location, along with secure communication through the optical fibre cable to the mainland, guarantees swift access to global data.

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) has established a network of its own ground stations in Tromsø, on Svalbard and in Grimstad, Norway, as well as on Antarctica (TrollSat, as from 2007). This network guarantees access to global satellite data specifically for use in environmental monitoring. The data is transferred to the main station in Tromsø for analysis and interpretation before being passed on to our customers. KSAT works continuously to develop new services for monitoring environmental factors based on satellite data. The most useful service developed to cover national needs is the surveillance of ocean territories to check for illegal discharges of oil from ships. KSAT currently has contracts for the delivery of this service to the environmental monitoring authorities in Norway and a number of countries around the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. It takes 30 to 60 minutes from the time KSAT receives the satellite imagery until the customer receives data on illegal oil spills, for example, and can dispatch aircraft to check the scope.

The world's most modern ground station for the reception of satellite data is located on Svalbard (SvalSat). In 2007, Kongsberg Satellite Services will begin using a new ground station on Antarctica (TrollSat).

The service provided by KSAT in Norway is now based on integration with AIS (Automatic Identification System), allowing comparison of satellite data on oil and ships. AIS is an automatic system for recording data on vessel identification, position, movement and cargo. Using this system, it is possible to see which ships were in an area when an oil spill occurred. The Kongsberg companies Kongsberg Seatex and Norcontrol IT are vital to the development of AIS services and systems.

Surveillance for flood prevention

Another KSAT research and development project is snow monitoring in mountainous areas. Information on snow conditions is essential for the power industry, for example. Data from the satellites is used for improving prognoses regarding run off in catchment areas and reservoirs.

Under the EU's 'Floodman' project, KSAT and the research institute NORUT IT of Tromsø have developed a system that uses radar-based satellite imagery to compile flood maps quickly and accurately. The system can indicate water lines onshore. This can help authorities and those involved in flood prevention and flood warning to identify areas in the danger zone.

Aerospace research = the environmental research of the future

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is Norway's largest supplier to ESA, the European Space Agency. In conjunction with other European suppliers, Kongsberg has supplied equipment to space programmes including Rosetta, the Mars Express and Huygens. These space research programmes help us obtain information about the Earth, seen from the perspective of another planet. The Venus Express is hurdling through space, and will enter into orbit around Venus in April 2006. Gaining insight into what caused the greenhouse effect on Venus might give us useful information about what we can to do to prevent a similar situation from occurring on Earth.

The Venus Express space probe is on its way to
Venus to explore the atmosphere and the relationship
between Venus and the sun.

(08.08.06)