Northrop Grumman Delivers Satellites for Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission

Northrop Grumman has successfully delivered two satellites to Space Norway, marking a significant milestone for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM).

This mission aims to provide reliable internet connectivity to the challenging and often underserved northern polar region.

The satellites, initially ordered in 2019, are slated to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as early as mid-July.

These satellites, constructed on Northrop Grumman’s GEOStar-3 bus platform, will offer consistent broadband coverage over the North Pole and other high-latitude areas that existing satellite networks struggle to serve.

In an innovative collaboration, each ASBM satellite is equipped with payloads from multiple entities. This includes the U.S. military’s Enhanced Polar System-Recapitalization (EPS-R) payload for secure communications, an X-band payload for the Norwegian Armed Forces, a Ka-Band payload for the commercial satellite operator Viasat, and a Norwegian Radiation Monitor payload.

The U.S. Space Force highlighted the significance of the EPS-R payload, noting that it will be "the first operational U.S. military payload hosted on a commercial space vehicle operated by an international partner."

This marks a pivotal moment in military and commercial space collaborations. Northrop Grumman has taken charge of the EPS-R payload and its associated ground station, ensuring the mission’s secure communications capabilities.

Both satellites, designated ASBM-1 and ASBM-2, are engineered to operate in highly elliptical polar orbits. Their trajectories will intersect at the North Pole, guaranteeing comprehensive and continuous coverage of the region. These satellites were meticulously manufactured at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Dulles, Virginia, showcasing the company's advanced engineering and production capabilities.

The ASBM mission represents a significant leap forward in addressing the connectivity needs of the Arctic and high-latitude areas. By leveraging a mix of military and commercial payloads on a shared platform, the mission underscores the growing trend of international and multi-sector cooperation in space exploration and communications technology.