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Norway to Launch First Satellite in August

By Staff Writer | July 6, 2010

      [Satellite TODAY 07-06-10] The Norwegian AISSat-1 (Automatic Identification System) satellite has been scheduled to launch in August on an Indian rocket, the Norwegian Space Center announced July 5.
          AISat-1, Norway’s first satellite, aims to provide maritime tracking services with coverage over the High North Seas. The service will be used by ships around the world as a short-range coastal traffic system. Under regional laws, seagoing ships weighing over 300 tons must be fitted with the technology to allow authorities to track movements and to avoid collisions with other boats.
          The satellite’s receiver will be a based on a platform built by the University of Toronto. The spacecraft will operate in a polar orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers and will be managed by the Norwegian Space Centre. The total cost of the project is estimated at $4.6 million.