Presidents Report

2006 has been the best year ever for Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT). Hard work, dedication and focus have given results faster than expected. In just five years, KSAT has become the world’s largest ground station service provider for polar orbiting satellites. In addition, our oil spill, ice and ship detection near real-time services have become pan-European and are on their way to full globalization.

In 2006, KSAT achieved several important milestones. The station coverage was extended down to the Mediterranean Sea. Using the KSAT Grimstad antenna, satellite imagery used for the oil spill and ship detection service can be downloaded covering the whole of Europe. The station is remotely operated from Tromsø Network Operations Center (TNOC) located at the KSAT headquarter in Tromsø. KSAT services will be the basis of the oil spill service of the European Maritime Security Agency (EMSA). KSAT has been selected the prime contractor for this service.

The KSAT network is also augmented with TrollSat. TrollSat, located in Antarctica, will allow polar orbiting satellites to download data and receive new commands from two optimum located ground stations within one network. This is a key feature enabling cost-efficient and flexible operations.

The preparation for the extension of the Svalbard ground station (SvalSat) is also well under way. 10 new antenna systems will be built in the upcoming construction season. In 2006, KSAT was selected as a Galileo Hosting Entity for the Galileo Satellite navigation program. At least four antennas will be built to communicate with the Galileo spacecraft and to ensure that the important navigation signal is as accurate. In addition, a Galileo GSTB-V2 station is also hosted at KSAT. Galileo is also the first user of KSAT pole-to-pole concept. From its stations in Antarctica and in the Arctic KSAT is the only service provider that can monitor both rims of the Galileo satellite coverage through Galileo Sensor Stations.

KSAT will build two new general purpose antennas at SvalSat to satisfy increased user demands. The antenna systems will be s- and x-band receive and transmit antennas with a diameter of 7,3m. They will receive data from an increasing number of polar orbiting satellites served by KSAT. In 2006 several space agencies increased their usage of the KSAT ground stations in general and SvalSat in particular, JAXA from Japan, KARI from Korea and ISRO from India are a few examples. KSAT is close to achieving one of its goals; all major space agencies and satellite operators in the world shall be a KSAT customer.

The March 1st, 2007 was an important date, which saw for the first time the TrollSat system scheduled and tasked to receive Envisat and ERS-2 data. Remotely operated from TNOC, the commands from ESA ESOC was transmitted and received by the satellite.

Global warming is causing concerns these days. Together with an increased oil exploration activity in the Arctic region North of Norway, KSAT has initiated several new projects. Dissemination of satellite imagery over low band width communication lines is one example, allowing fishing vessels access to updated information about the ice conditions, currents and winds. The portal “Barents Sea Online” is another important project. Together with our partners and the Kongsberg Group, the goal is to implement the first operational monitoring and simulation system for the fragile Northern Regions.

Several challenges but also opportunities lay ahead of the KSAT family. The global demand for rapid delivery of satellite data will increase in the years to come. 2006 has provided us a solid base for continued growth. We will take good care of this and make sure that KSAT fulfils its slogan; World Class through people, technology and dedication.

Rolf Skatteboe, President

(30.04.2007)