ArielSpace - Aktuella nyheter om allt i rymdbranschen

Welcome to ArielSpace

This website is dedicated to the Swedish space industry. International space-related business is growing, and Swedish companies are part of this exciting development. I hope that this website can help establish links between Swedish and international companies.

This part of the website contains information in English about the Swedish space industry.

The Swedish section contains information about the international space industry, mostly as summaries of articles in "Space News" and "Aviation Week and Space Technology".

The Prisma-satellites have separated.

The Swedish Prisma formation flying and rendezvous satellites, named Mango and Tango, have now been separated. The satellites have been clamped together since the successful launch in June.
(2010-08-12)

From the mission control center, the SSC engineers report:
”Telemetry indicated that Tango was free flying and had stabilised itself in a slowly rotating sun pointing attitude. Battery was nominal and solar array is working. Everything is fine aboard Tango. The GPS navigation shows that the relative trajectory is nominal: distance had increased to about 120m. The relative velocity at separation was at the right magnitude and the induced momentum was very good. Tango only had to remove a tumbling of about 1 deg/s. We got the first few images down to ground during the first pass after separation. All systems look to be working as expected.”

This was only the beginning, now the series of navigation experiments and flight demonstrations can begin. Follow the reporting from SSC’s mission control center at www.prismasatellites.se .

SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE SWEDISH PRISMA SATELLITES

The Swedish Prisma satellites have been successfully launched aboard a Dnepr launcher from Yasny, Russia, today at 14.42 UTC. Sixteen minutes after launch, the two Prisma satellites were released, clamped together in launch configuration.
(Pressrelease: Swedish Space Corporation. 15th of June 2010)

The mission control center of the Swedish Space Corporation had its first contact with Prisma 16.14 UTC. The operations team could verify that the solar array panels had been deployed as planned and that the satellites are in a nominal state. During the coming days, all subsystems on both satellites will be successively verified, leading up to the planned separation of the satellites – Mango and Tango – on 3 August.

Prisma will demonstrate break-through technologies for autonomous formation flying and rendezvous. The mission comprises the verification of innovative systems for guidance, navigation and control, software and sensors as well as two propulsion systems. The series of experiments will commence after the separation in August and continue for ten months.

The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) is the prime contractor for Prisma and has developed the major part of the onboard technologies and navigation experiments as well as the mission control software. The German Aerospace Center DLR, the French space agency CNES and the Danish University of Technology have contributed with navigation experiments, software and sensors.

The environmentally benign propulsion system and the micropropulsion system demonstrated onboard are developed by the SSC companies ECAPS and NanoSpace and make their first spaceflight on Prisma.

The Swedish National Space Board is the initiator of the Prisma mission and finances the project with support from the space agencies of France and Germany.

“Prisma is an excellent platform for the Swedish space industry to qualify its inventions in space”, says Olle Norberg, Director General of the Swedish National Space Board. “The mission will fortify Sweden’s position as a prominent technology nation and hopefully open doors to new international space projects where we can contribute.”

“SSC is a renowned player in the international space business”, says Lars Persson, CEO of the Swedish Space Corporation. “We really look forward to once again proving our capabilities in satellite development and control, and to the verification of our unique innovations such as the propulsion systems, which we expect to be very prosperous on the international market. We also appreciate the very rewarding cooperation we have with our European partners in this project.”

Technologies for autonomous formation flying and rendezvous are required in scientific missions where two or more spacecraft need to interact to form powerful antennas and telescopes. These innovations are also essential in missions that involve docking and inspections of satellites in orbit.

For more information, please contact

Staffan Persson, Prisma project manager, SSC
tel +46 8 627 62 68, mobile +46 70 4066661
staffan.persson@ssc.se

Christer Nilsson, Swedish National Space Board
tel +46 8 627 64 96, mobile +46 70 580 24 05
Christer.nilsson@snsb.se

Videos and webcast (in Swedish) on www.rymdkanalen.se
Read more about Prisma and find press images on www.prismasatellites.se
Follow mission reports on www.prismasatellites.se/events
Read about SSC on www.ssc.se
Read about the Swedish National Space Board on www.snsb.se
Read about NanoSpace: www.nanospace.se
Read about ECAPS: www.ecaps.se

New Swedish satellites ready to fly.

Mango and Tango, the two orbiting technology testbeds in Sweden´s Prisma mission, are set for launch from Yasny, in southern Russia, on a June 15 Dnepr flight.
(from Aviation Week & Space Technology. 24th of May 2010.)

Once in orbit, the Prisma spacecraft will test techniques for formationflying and rendezvous, including the sensors and guidance, navigation and control systems.

Also on the agenda are tests of the High Performance Green Propellant developed by Swedish company Ecaps. The mission will also flight-qualify upgrades of the data-handling and power systems used on the European Space agency´s Smart-1 lunar orbiter, which was built by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), and the Ramses ground system developed by SSC.

NanoSpace, like Ecaps, is an SSC subsidiary, and will test its siliconbased cold-gas microthrusters on the mission. The Swedish National Space Board sponsors the mission, with contributions from Denmark, France and Germany.

Arielspace visited SSC.

I visited SSC headquarter in Solna, close to Stockholm, in 2008 and saw the two satellites.
Read about it here.

A milestone for Volvo Aero's Space business - New rocket nozzle passes important test
(Pressrelease from Volvo Aero. 2010-04-01)

Volvo Aero has reached an important milestone in its Space product area. A new rocket engine nozzle for large launch vehicles has been hot fire tested with very successful results. This crowns 15 years of focused technology efforts.

The new rocket engine nozzle is based on Volvo Aero's patented “sandwich technology” wherein advanced welding techniques create a sandwich structure by welding together two sheet metal cones, one of which has cooling channels milled into it.

The new nozzle has been manufactured with the use of several unique methods, X-ray controlled laser welding equipment that locates hidden weld seams and then welds with surgical precision. A second unique method used is the ultrasonically controlled milling of the cooling channels. Furthermore, load carrying areas and stiffeners have been built up directly on the nozzle surface through a process were a high power laser fuses small particles of material into a desired form – known as metal deposition. Conventional techniques used previously would have involved separately manufactured components being welded onto the nozzle, leading to longer production times and higher costs.

This development has taken place in cooperation with the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the French Space Agency (CNES), Snecma and Astrium. The rocket engine nozzle was tested as part of the European Space Agency's ARTA program at the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) facility in Lampholdhausen where it delivered 700 seconds of tremendous power – all according to plan. This is about the length of time a rocket needs in order to achieve orbit velocity.

The test was an important success for Volvo Aero's light weight technology in which manufacturing methods are a significant factor.

“The new technologies make it possible for Volvo Aero to supply the Rocket engine / Launcher market in the long term with nozzles that are both less expensive and have a potential to increase performance. It also uses fewer components which means a more robust product compared to conventional nozzles”, says project leader Roland Rydén.

For instance the increase in performance allows around 100 kg of additional payload in an Ariane 5 rocket. The new nozzle technology is planned to be used on future European rockets. Volvo Aero is one of the companies selected to participate in the European project FLPP (Future Launchers Preparatory Program).

Håkan Lindgren
Director Space Marketing
+46 520 94436
e-mail: Hakan.Lindgren@volvo.com

Webb: www.volvoaero.com

New space cooperation agreement between Sweden and Russia.
(Pressrelease from Swedish Space Corporation. 2010-03-10)

March 9, in connection with the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt visiting Moscow, a space cooperation agreement was signed between Sweden and Russia.

This agreement will give Swedish Space Corporation the possibility to offer customers circumpolar balloon flights from its launch facility Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.

"Balloon flights with longer duration that have been possible so far, are something that many scientists have requested, this agreement will make it available and also, it will further strengthen our position as the leading balloon launch service provider in the northern hemisphere" says Lennart Poromaa, General manager Science Services Division, Swedish Space Corporation.

For more information, please contact: Mr. Lennart Poromaa, General manager Science Services Division, Swedish Space Corporation,
lennart.poromaa@ssc.se tel. +46 980-720 59 or +46 70-564 54 77

Nine years in orbit for the Swedish research satellite Odin.
(Pressrelease from Swedish Space Corporation. 2010-02-22)

Odin was designed for a two-year mission and has now outlived the design goal life time by eight years. Since the launch in 2001, Odin has delivered a large amount of data that has resulted in 29 doctoral theses in the four partner countries, Sweden, Canada, France, and Finland. The most recent one is on satellite microwave measurements of cloud ice properties, a newly developed method that will give information on ice clouds and their importance to the climate.

Delay for Prisma-satellites.

Launch of the Swedish-led Prisma formation-flying mission could be delayed because of concerns over possible down-range damage from rockets launched from Russias Yasni Cosmodrome.
(From Aviation Week & Space Technology. 11th of February 2010.)

Prisma is slated to lift off from Yasni on April 6 on a Kosmotras Dnepr booster, but the launch status may still be in a state of flux. A Dnepr flight from Yasni in 2008 carrying Thailand´s Theos surveillance satellite was delayed for months because of overflight issues with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

If the April 6 slot is missed, it will be necessary to shift the launch to Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, says Christer Nilsson, industrial affairs officer at the Swedish National Space Board. This would mean queuing up behind several other missions. "If Prisma goes to Baikonur, we´re probably looking at an August launch," Nilsson says.

Read about the Prisma-satellites.

News from the swedish project "Down to earth":
Shanghai World Expo 2010: "Down to Earth" is commercializing Space Technologies for a Sustainable Earth.
(3rd of November 2009)

Jonkoping International Business School, Umbilical Design and Googol in collaboration with Tillvaxtverket, have launched Down to Earth - a project that will result in exciting new jobs and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

This Swedish-driven international consortium will involve space agencies, companies, and universities to develop sustainable new applications, solutions and companies in construction, heavy industries, automobiles, sports, entertainment, healthcare, medicine, IT, education, energy and urban development to innovate innovation processes.

Down to Earth is a bold 10-year project that targets current and global challenges: energy, health care, transportation, water, climate change, mega cities and innovation in large and small companies. We will exhibit the first concepts at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the ultimate launch platform as China has enormous interest in space and expects 70 million visitors.

The project will enable Swedish companies to brand themselves as "sustainable innovators" under the theme of "High Tech Innovation for Sustainability." Our Space Innovation Module will show how space missions deal with scarce resources (energy, water, air and living space) and how innovations in lighter, smarter, durable and sustainable space technologies (IT, materials, design, etc.) can be creatively applied to new products and services. Down to Earth is heir to the Apollo Project, which catalyzed the computer, semiconductor and telecom industries and unleashed innovations in fuel cells, water purification, freeze dried foods, and imaging.

Swedish ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang, who recently completed his second space mission at the International Space Station, says: "The first time I readabout the Down to Earth project I immediatelyfound it very exciting. A challenging project aiming at gathering the best ideas and partners from the whole world (and space) to find solutions and develop methods to meet the global environmental- resource- and climate problems. I wish the best of luck to the Down to Earth project"

Down to Earth will inspire young people, stimulate public discussion and creative thinking about how best to apply space technologies to meet challenges on earth. Together, we will answer the question "Why space?" with the answer: "Because the earth depends on it."

"Your idea of Space and Sustainability is very interesting. Space technology is very hot in China since the Chinese Space ship successfully launched into Space two years ago. Creating something linking Space technology and Sustainability under the Swedish Expo pavilion shall make a good attraction. I support your idea." Eddie Chen, Executive Director, Chief Representative for Greater China Invest in Sweden Agency.

Read about the company Umbilical Design.

THE INFORMATION ABOVE WAS TAKEN FROM www.mynewsdesk.com

Down to Earth Contact:

Cecilia Hertz, Managing Director and Founder, Umbilical Design
cecilia.hertz@umbilicaldesign.se Mobile: +46 70 5754651

Professor Niclas Adler, Managing Director and Dean, JIBS
niclas.adler@jibs.hj.se Mobile +46 761181901

Dariush Ghatan, Founder and Managing Director, Googol
dariush.ghatan@googol.se Mobile: +46-70-606 86 96

The year of 2010 will be full of interesting space missions at Esrange Space Center - Swedish Space Corporation’s (SSC) operational facility for rocket and balloon launches, testing of new aerospace vehicles as well as control and operations of satellites. (20th of January 2010)

Read about it at the page "Swedish Space Corporation"

Swedish Space Corporation: LSE acquires Aurora Technology B.V.
(Press release 20th of January 2010)

LSE Space Engineering & Operations AG has recently completed the acquisition of the Dutch company Aurora Technology B.V., based in Lisse, Netherlands.

Aurora primarily provides space science and engineering services to ESA at ESTEC (Netherlands) and also at ESAC (Spain).

Tony Lancaster, Managing Director of LSE, stated: "We are very much looking forward to developing the cooperation we have had with Aurora for some time now. For LSE, the acquisition strengthens our team in Holland and extends our presence to Spain. The additional skills coming from Aurora will benefit our activities in Germany and the Middle East. Together we are a team of 150 highly skilled engineers and scientists focused on the space services market and we are ready to meet the challenges".

LSE is a German space engineering company established in 1990 and owned by the Swedish Space Corporation since 2004. LSE provides consultancy services in the fields of spacecraft operations and ground systems. The company's main operations are in Oberphaffenhofen and Darmstadt (Germany) with a further presence in the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

C2SAT receives first order from Orange Business Services (France)
(Pressrelease: 14/01/2010)

C2SAT (NGM-Stock Exchange), a supplier of maritime VSAT antenna systems, today announced that it in line with earlier communicated information regarding the distribution agreement with Orange, has received the first initial purchase orders from Orange, totaling eight (8) C2SAT 1.2 m Ku-band antennas as part of two different projects. The first antennas will be delivered in January, with the remaining deliveries scheduled to be delivered during the first quarter of 2010.

About Orange

Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. With 124.5 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates. Through its major international brands, including Orange, France Telecom provides businesses, consumers and other carriers with a complete portfolio of solutions that spans local and international telephony, wireless, Internet, multimedia, data, broadcast and cable TV services.

Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number two provider of broadband Internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies. France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange.

www.orange.com          www.orange-business.com

About C2SAT

Headquartered in Solna, Sweden, with a subsidiary in Singapore, and a BSO in Shanghai, China, C2SAT develops, manufactures and supplies innovative 4-axes stabilised VSAT antenna systems that provide vessels in motion with on-line two-way satellite broadband communication. The system is protected by
a series of global patents. C2SAT holding AB (publ.) is listed on the NGM Stock Exchange. C2SAT is a registered trademark.

www.C2SAT.com

My comment: After the pressrelease the share went from 0,40 crowns to 0,49 at the NGM-market.

Thales Alenia Space and Orbital receive contract for OverHorizon commercial communication satellite

Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite contract with OverHorizon with offices in the USA, Sweden and Cyprus.
(Pressrelease from Thales Alenia Space. December 23, 2009)

The spacecraft will carry an on-board processing payload provided by Thales Alenia Space, mounted on Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital)’s STARTM 2.3 satellite platform Both Thales Alenia Space and Orbital will share in the contract responsibilities as co-prime partners and the satellite will be delivered in early 2012. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The OverHorizon satellite provides a regenerative system for broadband communication via the satellite to, from and between small, inexpensive user terminals (“the Regenerative Communication System”) installed on moving vehicles, such as cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, etc.

About OverHorizon:
OverHorizon is a new satellite services operator addressing the global mobile broadband satellite communication market. OverHorizon's cost-effective solutions combine the mobility and ease of use of mobile satellite telephony, with the broadband throughput and real-time capability of VSAT solutions, meeting customer demands for modern, high data-rate, low-profile mobile communications. More information about OverHorizon can be found at www.ovzon.com

Metria Geoanalysis.

Read about Metria Geoanalysis, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company is a service provider that focuses on the operational use of remote sensing and GIS techniques for forestry and environmental applications as well as security-related aspects.
(13th of April 2009)

The company has provided me with very detailed information about their use of remote sensing.

Read at the page "Metria".

VIRGIN GALACTIC APPOINTS FIRST SPACE TRAVEL AGENTS IN SCANDINAVIA

18th of March in Gothenburg Virgin Galactic announced the names of the five travel companies who will train to become “Accredited Space Agents” (ASAs)– the first agents in the region allowed to reserve seats aboard Virgin Galactic’s suborbital space flights. The new ASAs are: -

Hannibal & Marco Polo A/S, Aarhus, Denmark
Area Travel Agency, Helsinki, Finland
Ice Hotel Travel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
The Search, Malmö, Sweden
Upplevelseakuten AB, Stockholm, Sweden

Read about this at the page SPACEPORT SWEDEN.

SPACE ACTIVITIES AT ESRANGE SPACE CENTER IN SWEDEN 2009.

The year of 2009 will be completely loaded with interesting space missions at Esrange Space Center - Swedish Space Corporation’s (SSC) operational facility for rocket and balloon launches, testing of new aerospace vehicles as well as control and operations of satellites.
(Pressrelease from the Swedish Space Corporation. 16th of February 2009)

Nine new satellite service missions.

SSC will support nine new satellite missions from its satellite station at Esrange Space Center during 2009. Most satellites have a scientific objective and they are owned by customers from all over the world. SSC provides satellites services such as ground control, routine support and reception of scientific data or satellite images.

Prisma, Sweden’s next satellite project is planned to be launched in the second half of 2009 and will have its ground station placed at Esrange Space Center. Prisma is developed and built by SSC on behalf of the Swedish National Space Board and has the objective to develop and qualify new technology necessary for future science missions in space.

Satellite services at SSC have been growing steadily since the first satellite operation contract in 1979. During 2009 four new antennas will be installed at Esrange to secure the accessibility to our ground communication systems. In total there will be 20 antennas for satellite missions up and running at Esrange in the end of this year.
SSC also offers reliable solutions for satellite operations world wide. Besides operating the busiest ground station in the world at Esrange Space Center, SSC also give their customers access to a global network of ground stations in strategic locations around the world, PrioraNet.

25-30 balloons missions.

From February to September this year 25-30 balloons will be launched throughout five international balloon campaigns.

The balloon campaigns are carried out on behalf of scientists and students from universities and institutes in Europe and America. Most of the flights have the aim to conduct scientific measurements in the atmosphere such as studies of ozone loss and trace gases. Some balloons are giant (1,2 million m3) and carry heavy instruments with the objective to study solar physics or to observe cosmic ray particles. Several technical flights will also be performed in order to develop the balloon flight technique itself.

The SSC launch team is one of the worlds leading actors in balloon launches. The activities mentioned above are carried out by ourselves or in collaboration with launch teams from the American balloon team at CSBF working for NASA or the French CNES balloon team.

Seven rocket missions.

First out are three student rocket campaigns planned for March. European university students will fly their own experiments designed and built within their universities.

Four microgravity rockets will be launched during 2009. The provided microgravity time differs between 4, 6 or 13 minutes depending on the rocket motor used. Three flights are planned for April and May and the fourth will take place in November.

The SSC launch team is one of the worlds leading actors in sounding rocket launches. The activities mentioned above are carried out by ourselves or in collaboration with launch teams from the German space agency DLR.

Read more at www.ssc.se

High noon in the Gobi desert – the story of a Swedish satellite.
(9th of February 2009)

In 1992 China launched a Swedish satellite called Freja. Read the story of the launch on the page "Sweden´s space program".

SSC AGREES TO ACQUIRE UNIVERSAL SPACE NETWORK.
(30th of January 2009)

The Swedish Space Corporation and Universal Space Network have reached an agreement in which SSC will acquire all the shares of US-based USN.

Read on the page "The Swedish Space Corporation".

THE FIRST SWEDISH TRAVEL SPACE AGENT ?

Virgin Galactic offers Nordic Travel Agents to become their Accredited Space Agent
(19th of January 2009)

Today, at a press conference at Spaceport Sweden in Kiruna, Virgin Galactic announced its plans to select a small number of Scandinavia’s elite travel professionals to act as its representatives across the region and to lead the way in enabling aspiring astronauts to realise their dreams of experiencing space.

Virgin Galactic extended an open invitation to the travel industry to apply for the exclusive and coveted Accredited Space Agent status. It plans to announce the names of those that have been successful during “TUR 2009” in Gothenburg in March 09.

Stephen Attenborough, Virgin Galactic’s Commercial director said: ‘We are looking for individuals, teams or companies that have a proven track record as leaders in providing high-end, unique travel experiences and who can convince us that they are as passionate as we are about making commercial space travel a safe, affordable and viable new sector of the travel industry.

We are particularly interested to hear from those who can show they have an engrained culture of outstanding customer service that is both personalized and discrete and who pride themselves on the highest levels of product knowledge. By selecting the very best in the field we can be confident that our future Scandinavian astronauts will be getting the best possible care and attention when booking their spaceflights.

Our new Scandinavian Accredited Space Agents will be joining an exclusive group of around 90 hand picked representatives in 33 countries around the world’

Olle Norberg, chairman of Spaceport Sweden said: ’We are looking forward to the announcement in March this year when the winning Accredited Space Agents will become part of a truly unique and exciting new sector within both space and tourism. Spaceport Sweden will provide infrastructure, services and adventures for space tourism. Having Accredited Space Agents in Scandinavia means greater local expertise in this field and will add a valuable extra dimension to the existing strong relationship between Spaceport Sweden and Virgin Galactic.”

For further enquiries and information on Virgin Galactic please contact:
Stephen Attenborough
Commercial director at Virgin Galactic
Phone: +44 7881 522025
Email: stephen.attenborough@virgingalactic.com
or see the Virgin Galactic website for information and image downloads www.virgingalactic.com

For further enquiries and information on Spaceport Sweden please contact:
Johanna Bergström-Roos
Information Manager at Spaceport Sweden and Esrange Space Center (Swedish Space Corporation)
Phone: +46 980 720 24 or +46 70 544 60 21
E-mail: johanna.bergstrom-roos@ssc.se

C2SAT has also been affected by the situation in the global market this autumn. Thus, the Board has decided to intensify its sales and marketing effort.
Read at the page about C2SAT.
(2009-01-11)

Volvo Aero has passed a key milestone in its work on developing an entirely new sandwich nozzle for Europe’s Ariane rocket. (6th of January 2009)

Read at the page News about the Swedish space companies.

Swedish Space Corporation delivers systems for telecom satellites.
(Pressrelease from the company: 8 of December 2008)

On 20 November 2008, SSC reached a milestone as an ESA contract regarding the telecom satellite platform Small GEO was signed.

For the first time ever, SSC will deliver subsystems for commercial telecom satellites with life lengths of up to 15 years. SSC is part of an industrial consortium assigned to develop and manufacture the satellite platform Small GEO, designed to carry 300 kg telecom payloads.
The market plan is based on 1-2 sold satellites yearly from 2012.

Surrey Satellite orders system for Nigeriasat-2 image management from Spacemetric.
(2008-12-06)
(From a pressrelease in June 2008.)
Go to "News about the Swedish space companies"

Saab Space and RUAG Aerospace united.
(05.11.2008)

Saab Space and Austrian Aerospace are united under one roof as RUAG Aerospace.
Berne. Following the sale of the Swedish space company Saab Space and its Austrian subsidiary Austrian Aerospace by SAAB AB to Swiss technology group RUAG, the companies are now united under one name: RUAG Aerospace.

The former "Saab Space AB" of Sweden and "Austrian Aerospace GmbH" of Austria are thus now known as "RUAG Aerospace Sweden AB" and "RUAG Aerospace Austria GmbH" respectively. These companies are being combined with the Swiss space technology activities of RUAG to form one strengthened, Space business unit at RUAG Aerospace.

This will enable RUAG to position itself as a pan-European supplier in the space technology segment and to offer its clients even more performance from a single source in the future.

About C2SAT: The company is a world leader in the development of innovative VSAT stabilised antenna systems for the global market.
(2008-11-03)

C2SAT (NGM Stock Market Exchange, C2ST) has signed a frame agreement with Seanet Communications AB (publ) for the delivery of 60 stabilised VSAT antenna systems.
Read at the page "C2SAT"

Chandrayaan-1
Indian mission to the Moon, with contribution from Sweden.
(From the homepage of The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF)
(2008-10-20)

Chandrayaan-1 is the first Indian mission to the Moon. It will be launched by an Indian PSLV-XL rocket and will be placed in a circular 100-km polar orbit around the Moon to perform remote sensing of the lunar surface. The aim is to understand the origin of the Moon better by studying its geology, minerology, elemental composition and interaction with the environment.

The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) has provided the experiment SARA (Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer). SARA was built jointly with the Space Physics Laboratory - Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (SPL-VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, India, with contributions from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Sagamihara, Japan. The European efforts are coordinated and partially funded by the European Space Agency (ESA).
SARA consists of two sensors, CENA (Chandrayaan–1 Energetic Neutrals Analyzer) and SWIM (Solar Wind Monitor), plus a DPU developed by SPL-VSSC. CENA measures fluxes of energetic neutrals in the energy range 10 eV – 3.3 keV with mass resolution and SWIM ion fluxes in the energy range 10 eV – 15 keV.

The SARA experiment will study how the plasma around the Moon interacts with a surface which is not protected by an atmosphere or a magnetic field. SARA measures atoms sputtered by ions impacting on the surface as well as monitoring this precipitating flux. This kind of experiment has never been undertaken in space before. In 2014 the sensors developed for SARA will fly to another object in the Solar system that also lacks an atmosphere, the planet Mercury, on board the ESA mission BepiColombo.

Chandrayaan-1 will lift October 22th.

Read more on www.irf.se

HOW SPACEPORT SWEDEN PLANS FOR SUBORBITAL FLIGHTS.
(October 11th, 2008)
Read at the page Spaceport Sweden.

SWEDEN AND JAPAN SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR FUTURE COOPERATION.
(October 11th, 2008)
Read at the page The Swedish Space Corporation.

Richard Branson to Stockholm.
(2008-10-02)

Sir Richard Branson is a guest of honour when the leading business-magazine of Sweden –Affärsvärlden – is promoting “The leader of the year” of Sweden. Branson will deliver a speech about leadership. The winner will receive the prize from the hand of Branson at a dinner at Grand Hotel in Stockholm 4th of November. Richard Branson is the owner of Virgin Galactic – the company that wants to create space tourism.

“Leader of the year” is the most famous prize of management and leadership in Sweden and it has been handed out for twentyfive years. The publisher of the magazine Affärsvärlden says: “Richard Branson is one of the great entrepreneurs of our time. It is very exiting that he will come here and share his thoughts with us.”

And Branson himself says that: “I look forward to coming to Stockholm to honour this prize. Good leadership is important if you want to turn visions and strategies into successful companies.”

Read about the Swedish space history.
Now there is a new text about communications, remote-sensing and the years 1979-2002.
Read at Sweden´s Space Programme.
(13th and 14th of September, 2008)

14th July 2008

Pressrelease:
Aeroflex Incorporated announces the purchase of Gaisler Research AB.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 14, 2008 — Aeroflex Incorporated today announced the acquisition of Gaisler Research AB, a privately held company, located in Gothenburg, Sweden.