The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) is a two-satellite constellation designed to deliver broadband communications to the Northern polar region for the U.S. Space Force and Space Norway.
ASBM uses the Northrop Grumman GEOStar-3 platform as its satellite bus.
The ASBM satellites carry multiple hosted payloads, including an X-Band payload for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense.
ASBM uses the Northrop Grumman GEOStar-3 platform, which includes the main satellite structure and systems for power, propulsion, communications, command and data handling, thermal control, and guidance and navigational control.
The U.S. Space Force delivered the second and final Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) military communications payloads for Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) on 2023-11-28.
Northrop Grumman developed the EPS-R payloads that will fly to highly elliptical orbits on two ASBM satellites projected to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The ASBM will carry two Enhanced Polar Systems-Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads that are valued at $1,300,000,000.
The two EPS-R payloads will launch in 2023 on Space Norway ASBM satellites.
The U.S. Space Force delivered the first of two military communications payloads for Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) on 2022-06-08.
ASBM plans to deploy two satellites in highly elliptical orbits on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2023 to provide polar coverage.
Each ASBM satellite will circle the Earth in 16 hours and will spend around 10 hours in the active arc part of their coverage.
Space Norway was established in 2014 as a state-run company tasked with procuring the ASBM constellation.
Space Norway purchased the two ASBM satellites on 2019-07-03.
Inmarsat’s ASBM Ka-band payloads will increase Global Xpress throughput for customers between 65 and 75 degrees north by improving the look angle compared to geostationary satellites.
The Inmarsat-leased ASBM payloads will precede the 2023 launch of three satellites Inmarsat ordered from Airbus Defense and Space in May.
The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) is a two-satellite system designed to operate in highly elliptical orbits to enable broadband connectivity at latitudes 65 degrees north and above.
Northrop Grumman is building the ASBM satellites on GEOStar-3 spacecraft platforms.
The ASBM satellites will each carry a commercial Ka-band payload operated by Space Norway and leased by Inmarsat.
KSAT, of which Space Norway owns 50 percent, will build four new antennas ahead of the ASBM Falcon 9 launch to provide communications services to the twin satellites.
SpaceX will launch both ASBM satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket in late 2022.