Space Physics Seminar spring-2015

Andøya Space Center (ASC) was established in 1962 and provides sounding rocket, balloon and RPA (Remotely Piloted Aerial System) operations from Norway, and is host to a large array of ground based scientific instruments. ASC also owns and operates the ALOMAR lidar observatory located on the mountain Ramnan, 380 meters above sea level. ASC customers and partners include ESA, NASA, JAXA, CNES, DLR as well as a many of universities and research institutions worldwide. As a limited company, ASC is owned 90% by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and 10% by Kongsberg Defence System. ASC is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. The company’s budget for 2014 was about NOK 100 million. The number of employees is 68. The recently upgraded ASC headquarters is located on the island Andøya, two degrees north of the Arctic Circle, in the midst of Northern Norway with good connections to the mainland by plane, sea and land based transport. ASC has two launch sites for sounding rocket operations: - Andøya, Norway: N 69°17' E 16°01' - Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard: N 78°55', E 11°51' From these sites, ASC can offer a variety of rocket trajectories covering a wide range in latitude and longitude. This, together with the numerous ground based observations sites in the region, provides a great flexibility for the scientists in selecting types of phenomena to be studied. The huge impact area in the Norwegian Sea allows wide limits for rocket impact dispersion. Vehicles have been launched to an apogee of approximately 1400 km, with impact of fourth stage north of 85 degrees latitude, more than 1800 km downrange. Andøya Space Center has seven launch pads in the launch area. There are three universal launchers - U1, U3 and ATHENA, and can, if required launch rockets simultaneously. The U3 and ATHENA launchers are mounted inside heated shelters. Launch pads are also available for launchers provided by ASC users. The launch facility in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard has one launchpad equipped with a universal launcher mounted inside a heated shelter. ASC and NAMMO Raufoss are working together to develop a new series of scientific rockets. The North Star family will consist of 3 configurations, North Star 1, North Star 2 and the North Star Launch Vehicle (NSLV), all using hybrid propulsion technology. Hybrid rocket motors have several advantages compared to solid fuel motors. A hybrid motor does not contain explosives, which means it is easier to transport. Hybrids are environmentally friendly and the liquid oxidizer is not toxic. Initially, the hybrid motors will power the proposed North Star sounding rockets 1 and 2, both carrying the ASC developed Hotel Payload. After gaining experience on the sounding rockets, the motors will be used on the proposed three stage NSLV which will be a fully hybrid powered vehicle for nanosatellites and small microsatellites up to 20 kg, launched into Polar LEO of maximum 350 km altitude from ASC about 2018. The NS1 1st stage – Nucleus, a ~28 kN motor is scheduled for its first test launch from Andøya Space Center in September 2015. The NS1 2nd stage – Aurora, will be based on 4 clustered Nuclues motors, and test launch is scheduled to 2016 from ASC. ASC offers guest offices and modern facilities for conferences and workshops. The Science Center (SC) in the main building provides the scientists with real time information from ground-based and satellite observatories. From SC the Project Scientist can determine the optimum scientific launch conditions and communicate efficiently with his team and with Launch Control.