Norwegian Space Agency and Isar Aerospace Sign Satellite Launch Contract

Norwegian Space Agency and Isar Aerospace Sign Satellite Launch Contract

The Norwegian Space Agency has signed a contract with the European satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace to launch its Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) program satellites. Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicleSpectrum’ will transport two satellites to sun synchronous orbit (SSO) from the company’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Spaceport launch site in Norway.

The launch is scheduled until 2028 and will take place from Andøya Spaceport, Europe's first operational spaceport on the mainland. The agreement between the Norwegian Space Agency and Isar Aerospace involves launching two Norwegian satellites as part of the AOS program, a national maritime surveillance system.

“The launch of the AOS satellites from Andøya Spaceport will be a true milestone for Norwegian space activities. We look forward to a robust partnership with Isar Aerospace and seeing ‘Spectrum’ in action,” says Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency.

“We are committed to enable independent access to space from Andøya Spaceport, strengthening national and European security and resilience by providing cost-effective and reliable orbital launch services”, says Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace.

Isar Aerospace is currently preparing for its first test flight from Norway. Having successfully completed static firings of both stages of its launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’, the first test flight will take place from Andøya Spaceport in Norway as soon as possible following Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) approval and licensing. The first flight of Isar Aerospace’s ‘Spectrum’ will be the first integrated test of tens of thousands of components and aims to generate data and experience that the company can apply to future missions.

Commenting on the company's upcoming first test flight, Daniel Metzler says: “Our team is in the starting blocks, and we are almost ready for the test flight.” Andøya Spaceport, Norway's first orbital launch site, was established to facilitate commercial satellite launches. The spaceport construction started in 2021, and it was officially opened in 2023. “Currently, there is a significant shortage of launch capabilities and launch sites”, Christian Hauglie-Hanssen says. “Andøya Spaceport and Isar Aerospace will provide critical launch capacity for the satellite market.”

Ingun Berget, President at Andøya Spaceport states that: “Andøya Spaceport is proud to be the launch site chosen for the AOS satellites. This emphasizes the strategic importance of Norway getting an operational spaceport, in particular for Norwegian governmental launches. In partnership with our first customer Isar Aerospace, we are ready to show the excellence of Andøya Spaceport as a service provider for enabling safe and efficient launch from European soil.”  

The two satellites set for launch with Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’ are AOS-Demo, developed by EIDEL to test innovative maritime monitoring technology, and AOS-Precursor, the first operational satellite of the system, developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

“For the first time, Norwegian industry is delivering satellites designed and built in Norway under a government contract from a Norwegian launch site. Our partnership with the European launch service provider Isar Aerospace strengthens both the nation’s expertise and capabilities while positioning Andøya Spaceport as a strategic launch site for Europe,” Christian Hauglie-Hanssen concludes.

Click here to learn more about Satellite Launch Vehicle Platforms listed on SATNow

Publisher: SatNow

GNSS Constellations - A list of all GNSS satellites by constellations

beidou

Satellite NameOrbit Date
BeiDou-3 G4Geostationary Orbit (GEO)17 May, 2023
BeiDou-3 G2Geostationary Orbit (GEO)09 Mar, 2020
Compass-IGSO7Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)09 Feb, 2020
BeiDou-3 M19Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M20Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M21Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M22Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 I3Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M23Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019
BeiDou-3 M24Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019

galileo

Satellite NameOrbit Date
GSAT0223MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0224MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0219MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0220MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0221MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0222MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0215MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0216MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0217MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0218MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017

glonass

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Kosmos 2569--07 Aug, 2023
Kosmos 2564--28 Nov, 2022
Kosmos 2559--10 Oct, 2022
Kosmos 2557--07 Jul, 2022
Kosmos 2547--25 Oct, 2020
Kosmos 2545--16 Mar, 2020
Kosmos 2544--11 Dec, 2019
Kosmos 2534--27 May, 2019
Kosmos 2529--03 Nov, 2018
Kosmos 2527--16 Jun, 2018

gps

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Navstar 82Medium Earth Orbit19 Jan, 2023
Navstar 81Medium Earth Orbit17 Jun, 2021
Navstar 78Medium Earth Orbit22 Aug, 2019
Navstar 77Medium Earth Orbit23 Dec, 2018
Navstar 76Medium Earth Orbit05 Feb, 2016
Navstar 75Medium Earth Orbit31 Oct, 2015
Navstar 74Medium Earth Orbit15 Jul, 2015
Navstar 73Medium Earth Orbit25 Mar, 2015
Navstar 72Medium Earth Orbit29 Oct, 2014
Navstar 71Medium Earth Orbit02 Aug, 2014

irnss

Satellite NameOrbit Date
NVS-01Geostationary Orbit (GEO)29 May, 2023
IRNSS-1IInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)12 Apr, 2018
IRNSS-1HSub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO)31 Aug, 2017
IRNSS-1GGeostationary Orbit (GEO)28 Apr, 2016
IRNSS-1FGeostationary Orbit (GEO)10 Mar, 2016
IRNSS-1EGeosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)20 Jan, 2016
IRNSS-1DInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)28 Mar, 2015
IRNSS-1CGeostationary Orbit (GEO)16 Oct, 2014
IRNSS-1BInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Apr, 2014
IRNSS-1AInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)01 Jul, 2013