Source – spaceflightnow.com
SpaceX has completed its second launch of the weekend, sending a Falcon 9 rocket into space on behalf of Space Norway. The mission, known as the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), was aimed at deploying two advanced satellites designed to enhance communication capabilities in the northern polar region.
Successful Liftoff and Milestone Achievements
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:02 p.m. PDT (10:02 p.m. EDT, 0202 UTC) with its first stage booster, B1061, marking its 22nd flight. This achievement ties B1061 with B1062 for the most flights of any first-stage booster in SpaceX’s fleet. Notably, B1061 has previously supported significant missions including Crew-1 and Crew-2 astronaut launches, several Transporter rideshare launches, and 10 Starlink flights.
Approximately eight-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, the booster landed successfully on SpaceX’s droneship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You,’ marking the 100th booster landing on this droneship and the 337th overall for SpaceX.
Arctic Satellite Capabilities
The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission involved deploying two satellites, ASBM-1 and ASBM-2, which were built by Northrop Grumman using the GEOStar-3 satellite bus. Each satellite weighs around 4,000 pounds and measures approximately 3 x 3 x 4 meters (9.8 x 9.8 x 13.1 feet). When their solar panels are fully extended, the total wingspan reaches 27 meters (88.6 feet). These satellites are designed to operate in a highly elliptical orbit that enables them to reach the Arctic region, a capability that many geostationary satellites lack.
The satellites will use a “Three Apogee Period” with an orbital range from 43,500 km to 8,100 km and will operate in the same orbital plane but eight hours apart. The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission program, initiated in 2019, aims to improve connectivity above 65 degrees North latitude.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launches Mission for Norway From Vandenberg, California
Collaboration and Payloads
This mission is a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Space Force, Northrop Grumman, and Space Norway, which is managed by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. The satellites carry multiple payloads for both U.S. and Norwegian military applications, including a radiation monitor for the European Commission.
Viasat’s Global Xpress (GX) Ka-Band payload is also onboard, marking the first time Viasat’s network will offer dedicated Arctic coverage. Additionally, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has integrated its Enhanced Polar Systems-Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads into these satellites, providing secure, anti-jam communications for U.S. forces operating in the Arctic.
Northrop Grumman’s Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) will manage segment command and control for both legacy and future EPS systems. The mission is noted for its joint effort and advanced capabilities, including the deployment of an X-Band military broadband payload for the Norwegian Armed Forces.
