Recent articles
An International Centre for Science and Research
Text: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
The Region of Øresund
The region of Øresund, common for Sweden and Denmark, marks itself more and more as a region for science and research. Two universities, the University of Copenhagen and the University of Lund lay the groundwork for this collaboration and the European Spallation Source is on its way to be built on the Swedish side of the Øresund Strait.
VTT - Seventy Years of Research
Text: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
Finnish research and innovation is well- known in the world, not least through the Nokia adventure, an adventure that also showed the Finnish ability to change from times with traditional industry, which the old Nokia represents, to the modern high technology society we now live in. Nokia is not the only example of Finnish high technology companies with large international success. However, it is all based on a very well reputed educational system and a well reputed research community.
A Part of the World's Largest Radio Telescope
Text: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
LOFAR at Onsala Space Observatory
The Onsala Space Observatory by the coast of western Sweden expands further, and with inauguration of the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) late in September, the observatory becomes a part of the world's largest radio telescope. The 192 new radio antennas, at an area like a football field, is not very imposing, but together with 47 other arrays in Europe the radio telescope can map radio signals from several billions light years back in the Universe to only few hundred light years after the Big Bang.
Polar Communication and Weather Mission
Text: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
Canada Plans National Solutions for the Arctic Area
The polar area does not have the same satellite coverage as the more central parts of the world, mainly because much of the services the satellites provide are based on use of geostationary satellites. Due to the orbit geometry, parts of the Canadian territory cannot be covered at all by the GEO satellites.
Swedish Institute of Space Physics – Built at Old Research Tradition.
Space Physics Research at high latitudes has a tradition in Sweden that extends back several hundred years. In the 1740s the famous Swedish scientists Celcius and Hiorter discovered the connection between the Aurora Borealis and disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field. However, it was not until 1902 that the first research station was set up north of the Polar Circle, near the railways between Sweden and Norway and near their common border. After a catastrophic fire the station was rebuilt at Abisko, some kilometres closer to Kiruna, mainly a place for biologists and geologists, but the geomagnetician, Bruno Rolf, stayed here for long periods and he discovered the "Giant Pulsations" in the geomagnetic fields.
In 1944 the Swedish government had set up a committee in order to make proposal to bring together the physical observations in a common geophysical observatory. The report from the committee proposed to build an observatory at a site eight kilometres east of the populated area of Kiruna.
Through a planning and financing phase the necessary area for the research activities was established and the construction of the first facilities started. The main building was inaugurated the 2 July 1957 and is still the core of the research facilities we know today.
Read more:
Swedish Institute of Space Physics - by Dr. Rick McGregor, rick@irf.se
Research at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics
- by Dr Hans Nilsson, hans.nilsson@irf.se
Remote Sensing for the Northern Areas
Remote sensing from satellites is a very valuable tool for monitoring and managing sparsely populated area as the Arctic, the far islands in the north and forest areas that cover much of the Nordic mainland and not least the large oceans around the countries.
The Remote Sensing Days in Tromsø show some of today's possibilities and applications and what future sensors in space may provide.
We have collected some different articles about this topic:
Remote Sensing - Invaluable for Inaccessible Areas
Remote Sensing Applications
Barents Watch - where Remote Sensing Play the Main Role
Tromsø - a Centre for Arctic Research
Equipment and Service for Data Sampling
Danish Space Compass Towards Jupiter
Text and photos: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
When the American Juno probe enters the orbit around Jupiter in 2016, one of the key elements to secure a successful mission is the small Advanced Stellar Compass from Denmark Technical University (DTU Space).
Navigation by Satellite - Now also for Aviation
Text and photos: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
EGNOS Safety-of-Life – declared available for aviation, a new milestone at the "European Single Sky" has passed.
Accurate positioning and navigation has been a must, and for centuries it has been applied by ships, however, today more and more areas apply it in our modern society. The reason is the introduction of satellites.
Spotlight on an "Informer"
Text and photos: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
Pål A. Hvistendahl
The European Space Agency needs to inform the society about its activities. Information directly to the society or through media therefore plays an important role for the organisation. Those needs are mostly met by the Media Relations office Department at ESA's headquarters in Paris. NordicSpace has met the Head of this section, Pål A. Hvistendahl to access information about how this is carried out.
Paris Air Show 2011 – More Than Aircrafts
Text and photos: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
Primarily an event for the aircraft industry, but among the many stands one can also find some interesting presentations for the space area.
The History of Gaia
Writer: Dr. Erik Høg, Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark
Late in the year 2012, the astrometry satellite Gaia will be launched with the aim to create the largest and most precise three- dimensional map of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Gaia will rely on the proven principles of ESA's Hipparcos mission to create an extraordinarily precise three-dimensional map of more than a thousand million stars throughout our galaxy and beyond. Gaia will also map the motions of stars which encode their origins and evolution.
Danish and Swedish scientists have been deeply involved in the project from the very beginning and Professor Dr. Erik Høg, at the Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark, has written an article for NordicSpace about the development of the satellite.
Astrometry during the past 2000 years
Astrometry during the past 100 years - 1
Astrometry during the past 100 years - 2
Astrometry history: Roemer and Gaia
Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV)
Writer: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
– From Parts to Space Qualified Means of Transport
The ATV Johannes Kepler is now connected to the International Space Station (ISS) providing supplies of food and new equipment to the outpost above Mother Earth. In addition, the spacecraft will lift the station to a higher orbit after the atmospheric friction has lowered the initial orbit.
The Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV), the second in this series, is possibly the most important European contribution to ISS, and the contractor, EADS Astrium, Bremen in Germany, marked the occasion on an especially arranged Media Event.
NordicSpace Launches a New Website
Writer: Bård Kringen, NordicSpace, Norway
- New Layout and Content
- New Articles Every Two Weeks
In order to provide the readers with a more regular and more frequent update on space related topics, we have made different changes in the layout as well as publication routines.
The CaNoRock Program - Cooperation to motivate students
Writer: Jøran Grande, NAROM, Norway
Most countries in the western world strive to motivate young people to choose natural science and technical studies. A lack of highly educated employers can become a problem if the western countries intend to maintain a leading role in the technical development. The field of space research and space utilisation is not an exception.
Balloons - Stable Platforms for Payloads in the Higher Atmosphere
Writers: Ola Widell and Stig Kemi, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden
The application of balloons for scientific use as a supplement to satellites and ground based instruments has increased in particular during the past decade. Balloons are stable platforms that can hold a payload in the higher atmosphere for several days.
