Arctic Surveillance and the Building Blocks of Constellations

GOMX-4 is a research and development mission by GomSpace. It includes 2 satellites and 3 partners: The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), the Technical University of Denmark and the European Space Agency (ESA).

GOMX-4A is sponsored by DALO who by this mission will have their first satellite intended to contribute to surveilance of the Arctic. The GOMX-4A demonstration is part of an analysis seeking to identify best-practice and future efforts reinforcing the Danish Defense’s surveillance of the Arctic within the Kingdom. The satellite has been named ”Ulloriaq” after the word "star” in the Greenlandic language.

"Ulloriaq" has been launched together with another satellite GOMX-4B, which is an ESA satellite. GOMX-4B has the mission to demonstrate inter-satellite linking and station keeping capabilities; key enabling technologies for future nanosatellite constellations.

The satellites are based on 6U platforms, small in size, with dimensions of 20x30x10 cm and weight of approximately 8 kilograms each. They were launched in February 2018 and successfully commissioned in April, 12 weeks later.

Payloads/Demonstrations:

Inter-satellite linking
Station keeping
Hyperspectral imaging
ADS-B and AIS receivers

Find more info on GOMX-4 here: https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/g/gomx-4

GomSpace is the project prime responsible for the satellite platform, the inter-satellite linking radio communication subsystem and integration of partner contributions

Testimonials:

“The GOMX-4B satellite is the most advanced satellite design we have initiated to date and we are very happy that ESA will participate in this project that will demonstrate possibilities of satellites flying in formation, assess the tandem effect synergy that open the doors to commercial opportunities for using the platform in future constellations for our customers. Together with ESA, we will take the nanosatellite technology to a new level.”

“We look forward to working closely with DALO and DTU on this exciting project to jointly develop and demonstrate the Ulloriaq mission. Our satellite and radio technologies are a perfect match for monitoring the vast and remote arctic area with a satellite flying over the scene every 90 minutes.”

- Niels Buus, CEO of GomSpace