Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) is announcing the planned launch of exactView-1, the highest detection performance Automatic Identification System (AIS) satellite ever built, on 22nd July by a Soyuz launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. 

exactView-1 (previously known as ADS-1b) was built under contract for  exactEarth and will become the fifth deployed satellite in exactEarth’s advanced vessel monitoring satellite constellation. COM DEV Canada acted as prime contractor and COM DEV Europe(UK) supplied the advanced AIS transceiver payload system for this mission. The satellite is based on SSTL’s off-the-shelf SSTL-100 platform, adapted for the mission with an additional deployable solar panel providing extra power for the COM DEV designed AIS receiver payload.

AIS is currently deployed on more than 80,000 vessels globally, however AIS base station receivers are mostly based on land and can only track ships moving up to 50 nautical miles off the coast. exactEarth is pioneering space-based AIS services that increases the range, enabling the monitoring of vessels throughout the World’s oceans. Operating from a polar orbit, exactView-1 will utilise high-speed S-band and C-band communications to frequently downlink information to ground stations in Svalbard, Norway, Guildford, UK and several other locations around the world. exactEarth will use a constellation of  AIS satellites to provide near real time information about vessel locations, routes and traffic for commercial and governmental customers. 

Having integrated the payload at its technical facility in Guildford, Surrey, SSTL is now acting as launch agent in collaboration with Commercial Space Technologies (CST) of Russia. The exactView-1 satellite is currently undergoing pre-launch testing in Baikonur. Once launched, SSTL will oversee a two-month in-orbit commissioning campaign from its UK ground station in collaboration with exactEarth and COM DEV engineers.

The 100kg exactView-1 will be launched alongside the Russian KANOPUS and BKA remote sensing satellites, which both incorporate SSTL platform avionics and software.

To follow the latest updates on the exactView-1 launch, go to:

http://www.sstl.co.uk/launches/exactView-1

About SSTL

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is the world's leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, science and communications. The Company designs, manufactures and operates high performance satellites and ground systems for a fraction of the price normally associated with space missions, with over 400 staff working on turnkey satellite platforms, space-proven satellite subsystems and optical instruments.

Since 1981 SSTL has built and launched 36 satellites – as well as providing training and development programmes, consultancy services, and mission studies for ESA, NASA , international governments and commercial customers, with its innovative approach that is changing the economics of space.

Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by Astrium, an EADS company.

www.sstl.co.uk

About COM DEV

COM DEV International Ltd. (www.comdevintl.com) is a leading global provider of space hardware and services.  With facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, COM DEV manufactures advanced subsystems and microsatellites that are sold to major satellite prime contractors, government agencies and satellite operators, for use in communications, space science, remote sensing and defense applications. COM DEV's majority-owned subsidiary, exactEarth Ltd., provides satellite data services. 

About exactEarth Ltd

exactEarth, based in Cambridge, Ontario, is a data services company providing the most advanced information on global maritime traffic available today.  Our premium service, exactAIS®, delivers an unrivalled view of the recognized maritime picture at a global scale. Offering fully secure data in a variety of industry standard formats and delivery methods, exactEarth’s data provides real value for a wide range of operational maritime applications delivering operational efficiencies, enhancing security, safeguarding the environment, and assisting in saving lives.  exactEarth is jointly owned by COM DEV International Ltd (TSX: CDV) and HISDESAT Servicios Estratégicos S.A.  For more information, visit our website at www.exactearth.com