The first satellite from the University of Oslo is scheduled for launch next month. The small research vessel will carry instruments to measure how solar storms affect Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists expect the data to improve forecasts of space weather that can disrupt power grids and communications.
Norway’s space sector has grown in recent years, but UiO’s project remains its first independent satellite mission. The spacecraft, named Norsat-1, weighs 12 kilograms and was developed entirely by university researchers and students. Project leader Anne Grete Straume said the team focused on two main goals: tracking solar storm effects and solving an old physics question about particle behavior in space.
The satellite will orbit at 500 kilometers altitude, passing over the poles 14 times a day. Its sensors will record changes in plasma density and magnetic fluctuations during solar events. These measurements could help explain why some solar storms produce stronger effects than others. The team plans to publish findings within two years.
UiO has partnered with the Norwegian Space Agency and the European Space Agency for launch logistics. Straume said students will analyze raw data as part of their coursework, giving Norway a new generation of space experts. The satellite is expected to operate for at least three years before re-entering the atmosphere.
Source: tu.no