Kongsberg launches microsatellites Arvaker 2 and 3 to complete Norway's N3X constellation

MP42H microsatellite bus produced by Kongsberg NanoAvionics. (Kongsberg)

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has launched two new microsatellites, Arvaker 2 and 3, onboard SpaceX's Transporter-14 from California, US, according to the company's 24 June press release.

The launch of these two microsatellites completes the N3X satellite constellation, which has been built to secure satellite-based maritime surveillance data for the Norwegian Armed Forces as well as other Norwegian government institutions involved in maritime security, according to Kongsberg.

The constellation will comprise three maritime surveillance satellites. The first, Arvaker 1 N3X, was launched in March as part of SpaceX's Transporter-13 launch service from California.

The Transporter-13 mission was launched on 14 March from the Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base. There were 74 payloads including cubesats, microsatellites, hosted payloads, a re-entry capsule, and an orbital transfer vehicle carrying 11 payloads to be deployed at a later time, according to SpaceX.

On 23 June, Falcon 9 launched the Transporter-14 mission to low-Earth orbit (LEO) from SLC4E.

The satellites use MP42H microsatellite buses produced by Kongsberg NanoAvionics and are equipped with advanced automatic identification system (AIS) receivers and a navigation radar detector (NRD). The NRD is designed by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). These systems identify vessels that broadcast AIS and those that disable AIS but emit radar signals. The satellites are operated by Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) via a global network of ground stations providing high-frequency, low-latency surveillance data.

The MP42H microsatellite bus includes up to 100 W of orbit average power and 460 watt hour  of battery capacity. Its avionics are immune to single-event effects (SEEs) and its critical components are tested against heavy ions.