Two Space Norway satellites designed to improve military and civilian communications in the Arctic arrived in their unique orbit thanks to a successful Falcon 9 rocket ride Sunday from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The SpaceX rocket lifted off at 7:02 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-4 on South Base.
Minutes later, the first-stage booster successfully completed its 22nd flight and landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean. A successful landing and later return to port means the component could make its 23rd mission.
On board Sunday’s rocket were Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission as the firm’s website declared “Our satellites are launched.” The firm Space Norway recently changed its name from Telenor Satellite.
Dubbed ASBM-1 and ABSM-2, the two satellites were deployed 5 minutes apart, as planned less than an hour after liftoff.
“Today’s mission is particularly exciting for SpaceX because this is the first time we will be launching to the highly elliptical Molniya orbit,” said Ronnie Foreman, a SpaceX commercial sales manager.
For this orbit, the apogee, or farthest point away from Earth, will be approximately 25,000 miles while the perigee, or closest point, can be as close as 373 miles.
“The closer a satellite is to the Earth during its orbit the faster it’s moving, so that really high apogee allows vehicles in this orbit to spend a significant amount of time over the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere making passes about every 12 hours or twice per day,” Foreman said.
A lower orbit means the satellites will move faster so it “zips across the Southern Hemisphere,” Foreman added.
“That careful balance of timing and orbital positioning means that in the Molniya orbit just two satellites are able to provide around-the-clock coverage of these northern latitudes,” Foreman said.
Northrop Grumman Corp. built the satellites, which were equipped with instruments for the U.S. Space Force, Norway’s military and commercial communication company Viasat.
One satellite also carried a Norwegian-developed instrument to measure radiation levels, information for development of Europe’s next-generation of Galileo satellites.
Once operational, the two ASBM satellites will deliver continuous commercial and military broadband capacity to the Arctic region.
“The need for high-speed coverage in the Arctic has been a priority for the Norwegian government for a long time,” said Kjell-Ove Orderud Skare, ASBM program director for Space Norway. “As far back as 2006, the Norwegian government stated that the Arctic is Norway’s most important focus area.”
To meet the challenge, they realized no single government or commercial company could single-handedly make the mission happen, leading to the unique partnership.
This mission marked the first time a commercial satellite managed by an international ally has carried U.S. military instruments, the Enhanced Polar Systems-Recapitalization (EPS-R), on each craft.
“The partnership with Space Norway was explored because it addresses integrated deterrence and building relationships with our international partners and allies,” said Air Force Maj. Michael Walsh, EPS-R Branch chief.
Amid a growing strategic importance of the North Polar region the U.S. military will gain a more resilient capability and see a significant boost in polar satellite communication.
The hybrid approach means the U.S. military has led to a faster and less expensive program, Walsh said.
Sunday’s liftoff marked the 26th of the year for Falcon missions from Vandenberg and 30th including all rockets and missiles launching from the base since Jan. 1.
