Satellite, part of the Copernicus Space Programme. The photo is by Thales Alenia Space

Signs contract for delivery to Copernicus mission

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space to deliver technology to the new high-priority Copernicus Radar Observation System for Europe (ROSE) as part of the Copernicus Programme – the European Union’s environmental monitoring mission.

KONGSBERG will deliver the Antenna Pointing Mechanism (APM) to the ROSE L-band mission. The APM routes the radio frequency signals between the antenna and the spacecraft, and provides accurate and stable pointing of the reflector and elevation axes to transfer information from the satellite to the ground station antenna on Earth.

“Signing the Copernicus ROSE-L contract with Thales Alenia Space represents an important milestone to KONGSBERG. Copernicus is the most ambitious Earth Observation Programme to date, and the ROSE-L will provide information for monitoring forest, soil moisture, vegetation and land ice, and helping climate change research through mapping and monitoring sea and land ice,” says Harald Aarø, Executive Vice President KONGSBERG’s Division for Space and Surveillance.

The programme is headed by the European Commission (EC), acting on behalf of the European Union, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). Thales Alenia Space will serve as prime contractor for this program.

Copernicus is the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, providing data for environmental protection, climate monitoring, natural disaster assessment and other social tasks to benefit all European citizens.

What is the Copernicus Programme?

According to the European Space Agency, Copernicus provides a unified system through which vast amounts of data are fed into a range of thematic information services designed to benefit the environment, the way we live, humanitarian needs and support effective policy-making for a more sustainable future.

Copernicus will help shape the future of our planet for the benefit of all. ESA is providing a proven framework for the development of operational systems on behalf of the user community, paving the way for investment in future generation systems. ESA is exploiting its 30 years of expertise in space programme development and management to contribute to the success of Copernicus.