Space-Based AIS with a Norwegian Small-Satellite Constellation

Bradbury, Laura, Univ. of Waterloo; Kekez, Daniel; Beattie, Alex M., Univ. of Toronto; Zee, Robert E., Univ. of Toronto; Narheim, Bjoern T.; Harr, Jon; Andersen, Bo N., Norwegian Space Ctr.; Eriksen, Torkild, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment; Olsen, Øystein, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment; Helleren, Øystein, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment; Olsen, Richard B., Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

doi:10.1117/3.2618157.ch9

Book: The Nanosatellite Revolution: 30 Years and Continuing

Editor(s): Henry Helvajian; Siegfried W. Janson

Author(s): Laura Bradbury, Daniel Kekez, Alex Beattie, Robert Zee, Bjoern Narheim, Jon Harr, Bo Andersen, Torkild Eriksen, Øystein Olsen, Øystein Helleren, Richard Olsen

Published: 2023

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2618157.ch9

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

Over the past couple of decades, small satellites have evolved from demonstrators to operational assets to enable low-cost space access for government services and commercial service providers. The Norwegian AIS constellation is an example of how small satellites have revolutionized global ship traffic monitoring, and how a satellite program grows from a single payload on nanosatellites to multiple payloads exploring new science as well as new maritime services on microsatellites. This chapter discusses the Norwegian satellite missions, with an emphasis on the unique and innovative aspects that made spaced-based AIS extremely valuable and of long-term strategic importance to Norway.