Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (KSAT) is a commercial Norwegian enterprise, uniquely positioned to provide ground station and earth observation services for polar orbiting satellites. With three interconnected polar ground stations; Tromsø at 69°N, Svalbard (SvalSat) at 78°N and Antarctic TrollSat Station at 72°S, and a growing mid-latitude network, KSAT operates over 60 antennas optimally positioned for access to polar orbits. KSAT supports more than 60 satellites, including high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical satellites, allowing us to provide earth observation data and services to a wide range of customers. The Tromsø Network Operations Centre is staffed 24/7-365 days, and remotely operating facilities around the world as one single interconnected network.

For satellite owners, KSAT provides unique pole-to-pole coverage, including the largest ground station in the world at Svalbard – the only commercial ground station in the world able to provide all-orbit-support (14 passes per day). KSAT provides services such as:

Telemetry, Tracking and Command services (TT&C)
Launch and early orbit phase support (LEOP)
Data acquisition, processing, distribution and archiving
Hosting and operation of Customer Furnished Equipment (CFE)

KSAT has supplied sophisticated earth observation services dating back to the 1960s. The long coastline and the challenges associated with monitoring it in poor weather conditions and periods of continuous darkness have made Norway an early adapter of SAR technology. KSAT’s oil spill detection service has been operational for over a decade and our experienced operators provide rapid high-quality analysis to the petroleum industry and governmental regulators around the world. KSAT’s earth observation services main forces are:

Maritime situational awareness
Multi-mission rapid response.

The head office of KSAT is located in Tromsø, and employs today 93 of the total 121 employees at KSAT. The remaining 28 are located at the SvalSat ground station (22) at Svalbard and at our sales office in Oslo (6).

KSAT is owned 50% by Kongsberg and 50% by Norwegian Space Centre Properties - a company owned in full by The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry, administered by Norsk Romsenter (Norwegian Space Centre).

The Norwegian Space Centre
The Norwegian Space Centre is a government entity under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Center provides strategic guidance to the European Space Agency and is responsible for Norwegian space policies, industrial development and space infrastructure.

Kongsberg
Kongsberg is an international, knowledge-based group that supplies high-technology systems and solutions to customers engaged in the oil and gas industry, the merchant marine, and the defence and aerospace industries.

Our success comes not simply from our ideal polar location and the remarkable facilities we operate. We pride ourselves on understanding our customers and working collaboratively to realize the full extent of what is possible with modern technology. Our services have been developed through iterative teamwork with end-users, refining our approach in partnership with their needs. Over time it is the commitment of our employees to thrilling our customers which sustains our accomplishments. We take pride in the belief that despite our high-tech industry our slogan is appropriate; "World class through people, technology and dedication" – in that order.

Ground Network Services

Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C)