ASBM‑1 & ASBM‑2: Space Norway’s Arctic HEO Broadband Satellites

Overview & Purpose

ASBM‑1 and ASBM‑2—part of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM)—are the world’s first commercial Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) satellites designed for continuous high-speed broadband connectivity above 65° N latitude. Operated by Space Norway, they provide reliable X-band and Ka-band communications for military, government, maritime, and scientific users in the High Arctic .

Satellite Specifications & Orbit

• Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman (GEOStar‑3 bus)
• Launch Mass: ~3.5 tonnes each (fuelled), with ~2 tonnes dry.
• Size: ~3×3×4 m, ~27 m solar wingspan
• Orbit Type: HEO “Three-Apogee Period (TAP)” orbits, 16-hour cycle with ~43,500 km apogee over the Arctic and ~8,100 km perigee
• Inclination: 63° plane separation of ~8 hours, enabling ~10 hours continuous coverage with overlap
• Service Life: 15 years

Launch Details

• Launch Date: August 11, 2024, at 19:02 UTC
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg SFB, USA
• Deployment: Satellites launched stacked; first signals received post-launch

Payloads & Partnerships

• X-band payloads for Norwegian Armed Forces
• Hosted S. Space Force EPS‑R military payloads—the first U.S. military payload aboard a non-U.S. satellite
• Ka-band GX10A/B payloads for Viasat, extending Global Xpress broadband across the Arctic
• On one satellite, a Norwegian IDEAS radiation monitor aids European Commission’s Galileo efforts

Strategic Significance

• First-ever commercial HEO broadband satellites, offering uninterrupted Arctic connectivity.
• Pioneers integration of military and commercial payloads aboard one platform.
• Enhances US-Norway cooperation, allowing advanced gov/military Arctic communications.
• Enables real-time broadband to support scientific research, maritime navigation, security, and emergency services above 65° N.