by Garth Meyer
Northrop Grumman Redondo Beach announced Dec. 3 that it has handed over operations for a Space Norway Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) and finished activating U.S. Space Force payloads carried aboard two satellites.
The mission launched from Vandenberg Space Force base (Santa Barbara County) in August.
The satellites host payloads for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, to expand broadband connectivity across the Arctic. The cargo also allows for protected military satellite communications for U.S. and allied forces in the Northern Polar region.
“Our service members and allies can now count on reliable, secure communications in this strategically important region while next-generation systems are developed,” said Blake Bullock, vice president, military space systems, Northrop Grumman.
ASBM is a partnership between U.S. Space Force and Space Norway, representing the first time an operational U.S. military payload is hosted on an international commercial space mission.
Northrop Grumman built the two satellites for the project, as well as contributed payload development, testing, integration, launch support and early mission operations for Space Norway.
The company also delivered two satellite ground control systems, housed in Tromso and Bardufoss, Norway. ER
