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1 *think outside the planet * Space&Energy Expand your horizon on www.thinkoutsidetheplanet.com

Space energy magasin 2010

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Page 1: Space energy magasin 2010

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*think outside the planet

*

Space&Energy

Expand your horizon on www.thinkoutsidetheplanet.com

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“ How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.”Sir Arthur C. Clarke

NASA

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Contents Space&Energy

Space&Energy

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The NorwegianSpace Industry

6 Introduction to Space & Energy 8 Inner and outer Space Fewer people have visited the deepest point on our own planet than have been to the Moon.

12 Robots: doing our dirty work Now we know who really went to all those dangerous places in outer space. 15 The unknown subsea energy source Methane hydrate might be our next major fossil fuel resource.

18 A selection of NASA space technology spinoffs

20 Rechargeable fuel cells in space NASA sponsored the first commercially viable fuel cell. 21 Space spinoffs on the continental shelf In years to come, many space-based technologies will make an impact offshore.

23 Observing the oceans from space Space offers an excellent vantage point for remote sensing and observation of the Earth.

28 Space and energy timeline

30 Space and energy facts

35 Arena Integrated Operations

46 Ipark – the Stavanger Innovation Park

48 More efficient satellites from CMR Prototech

50 Real time environmental monitoring with Biota Guard

52 Eatops uses space technology to monitor offshore oil and gas fields

56 The Norwegian Space Centre

60 STM heads next generation open broadband interactive satellite technology effort for the ESA

62 Using ASIGN in Situational Awareness systems

64 Taking Space & Energy to the Next Level The core of enthusiasts behind the Space & Energy network are all passionate about technology and space.

66 Only one millionth ...

16Safer drilling with Seabed Rig

36Telenor Satellites to focus on offshore and shipping markets

Houston – we have the solution!

40Remote, complex and expensive to fix

42ONS – Space and energy

44WORLD CLASS– achieved with people, technology and dedication

54Oceaneering– operating in space and deep waters

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© 2010 ONS - Space & Energy Park, Stavanger, Norway - www.thinkoutsidetheplanet.com Art director: Klas Jønsson - www.artdirector.no Graphic Design: Muskat Design - www.muskatdesign.no Print: Gunnarshaug Circulation: 15 000

“Drilling up”– The future of

energy in space

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NASA

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Introduction to The parallell challenges and opportunities within the space and energy

industry hides a vaste potential for competence and technology transfer.

We believe the intersection and interaction of these two large industries

will generate new solutions and new business opportunities. And we believe

the examples and visions will ignite new interest and new perspectives

on both industries from politicians, professionals, students and public.

During the ONS 2010 we will show this through conferences, seminars,

the Space&Energy park and this magazine.

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“The link between space and offshore is interesting because it may lead to development of exciting technology and new business in Norway.”

Minister of Trade and IndustryTrond Giske

“ONS has always been focused on new technology areas. Oil and gas industry is coupled with the rest of the energy cluster in front of significant technological challenges, and it is natural to find inspiration, knowledge and technology from the aerospace industry.”

Kjell Ursin SmithONS

“Offshore and space activities both need innovative solutions, skilled people and technology with extreme qualities. It is therefore natural to exchange knowledge and experience across these industries and to take a joint effort to stimulate interest in education in technology and science.”

Odd Roger Enoksen – CEO Andøya Rakettskytefelt AS and former Minister of Petroleum and Energy

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Space&Energy

Thanks to our partnerships that made this possible:

“My aim as editor of this magazine is to kindle an interest in the often surprising interaction between the development of ocean and space. Despite our many challenges, we inhabit a world filled with possibilites and promise – if we are willing to think outside the planet.”

Erik Newth – M.Sc. and editor of Space & Energy

Norsk RomsenterNORWEGIAN SPACE CENTRE

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I n fact, while twelve Americans have walked on the lunar surface, only two people have ever seen the bottom of the

10,911 metre deep Mariana Trench with their own eyes.

Those intrepid explorers were Jacques Pic-card and Don Walsh. Their craft was the Tri-este, a submarine designed to withstand more than one thousand times atmospher-ic pressure. 20 minutes at the bottom The Trieste reached the floor of the Mariana Trench on January 23, 1960. Worried by a crack in one of the windows, Piccard and Walsh stayed for only twenty minutes, which was time enough to make the stun-ning, and since confirmed, discovery that fish and shrimp can thrive even at this depth.

The Trieste mission was followed by a series of innovations in the 1960s, such as the world’s first underwater habitat, deep-tow sonar and the underwater robot. This was also the heyday of Jacques Cousteau, the world-famous explorer and populariser of all things oceanic.

Meanwhile, Soviet Russia and the United States were engaged in the Space Race, which would result in a decade of un-

matched innovation in the field of manned spaceflight. The two great frontiersThe parallel explosion in deep sea and space exploration was no coincidence. World War Two left mankind with two great frontiers left to explore, and the technology with which to explore them: SCUBA gear and the space rocket. This technology, which matured in the 1950s and 60s, paid dividends during subsequent decades, from deep-sea oil wells to satellite TV.

The similarities do not end here, however. The ocean and deep space are both incom-patible with human life. Pressure is a chal-lenge in both environments (although in opposite ways), as are temperature, isola-tion and the sheer physical danger and ex-pense of operating under such conditions.

Now what? There’s a less inspirational comparison to be made here as well. The US manned space programme is effectively closing down in 2010, with no plans to go back to the Moon or venture further afield. Likewise, no hu-man has dived deeper than 6500 meters since the Trieste mission – it actually took 35 years for a robotic vehicle to reach the same depth. >>

Inner and outer space

Here’s a little-known, but important fact:

Fewer people have visited the deepest point

on our own planet than have been to the Moon.

Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard in the cramped quarters of the Trieste.

NO

AA

NASA

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>> In more ways than one, it seems as if we have lost our spirit of adventure. This is not just a question of exploration for its own sake, though. As land-based resources are depleted in our quest to satisfy a growing, more affluent population, the two final frontiers can only increase in importance.

But if we are to make use of the huge re-sources hiding beneath the waves and above the atmosphere, we need to reinvig-orate human exploration of both spheres. And you can’t do one without the other. Af-

ter all, it was the pictures taken by Apollo astronauts that made us appreciate that we live on an ocean planet.

In 1979, American oceanographer Sylvia Earle performed the deepest untethered walk (381 metres) by any human before or since. Earle used a “Jim suit”, a bulky metal diving suit designed to maintain a pressure of one atmosphere regardless of the exte-rior pressure. The Jim suit was used exten-sively by the offshore oil industry for years, before being phased out in the 1990s. *

In 1979, American oceanographer Sylvia Earle

performed the deepest untethered walk

(381 metres) by any human before or since.

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NASA

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Robots: doing our dirty workThe iconic TV series Star Trek had the tag line

"To boldly go where no man has gone before."

Now we know who really went to all those

dangerous places in outer space: robots.

For the foreseeable future, space be-longs to our robots. Likewise, robotic Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs)

reign supreme in the deep oceans. But al-though ROVs may have the same general appearance as space robots, the differences are significant.

First and foremost, ROVs are tethered to a vessel on the surface, and operated directly by a human being. Power and communica-tion are readily available through the um-bilical cord connecting the ROV to the sur-face. If something goes wrong, the vehicle can usually be hoisted to the surface and repaired.

Autonomy in spaceSpace probes and rovers, on the other hand, need to be as self-sufficient as possible. Outside the inner Solar system, solar panels are no good, and all the energy needed for a

mission that might last decades is there-fore carried in a plutonium "battery".

Communication is slow and cumbersome, as the number of bytes transmitted per second plummets as the distance increas-es. The receiving stations on Earth need to be large and evenly distributed around the globe to catch the exceedingly weak signals as our planets rotates.

Beyond the moon, having remote control in the usual sense of the word is impossible. The travel time of signals from Mars, com-paratively nearby, is of the order of half an hour. This means that space probes need to have a high degree of autonomous behav-iour.

Robotic mission to MarsThe EXOMars mission, which is scheduled to arrive on the Red Planet in 2019, will take

stereoscopic images from which scientists on Earth will identify target destinations. It is then left up to the rover to calculate a tra-jectory that enables it to travel safely for about 100 metres per Martian day (24.5 Earth hours).

In addition to the navigation software, EX-OMars is equipped with close-up collision avoidance cameras. Basically, long before the first astronaut sets his or her foot on Mars, the planet will have been explored for us by robots with a level of intelligence sim-ilar to an insect. Remote patchingIf anything goes wrong – and something usually does – engineers have to solve the problems without having direct access to the affected machinery. Take the Voyager 2 space probe, which in May this year devel-oped a potentially lethal software problem.>>

Robonaut 2 is a NASA project aimed at creating a humanoid robot that can work alongside humans in space and on Earth.

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NASA

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>> That a computer which had been ex-posed to the radiation and vacuum of space for 33 years was still running, was less im-pressive than the fact that a fix was up-loaded successfully at a distance of 13.7 bil-lion kilometres.

Underwater robotsThe nearest equivalent to space probes in the ocean are the autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVs. Today, these robots are of-ten used to make detailed maps of the ocean floor prior to installing subsea infra-structure. But their role and importance could be increasing, as oil exploration and exploitation moves into deeper and colder waters.

Autonomous robots make sense from an economic perspective. By performing rou-tine subsea tasks, AUVs will be crucial to the automation of the offshore sector.

Although the subsea environment is far more complex than the barren surface of Mars, it is easy to imagine a future where deep-water subsea installations are moni-tored and maintained by the advanced descendants of today's AUVs. Many of these robots could resemble and emulate the behaviour of fish, moving in schools and driven by with artificial curiosity.

Kongsberg Maritime, based in Kongsberg, Norway, is a leader in the field of AUV

development. Kongsberg's HUGIN AUV is a typical example. This battery-driven free-swimming vehicle has a high degree of independence, and is used for seabed map-ping and imaging, geological surveys, in-spection of underwater structures such as pipelines, search operations, environmental missions, and military applications such as surveillance and reconnaissance.

Robonaut 2 is a NASA project aimed at crea-ting a humanoid robot that can work along- side humans in space and on Earth. At its current stage of development, Robonaut's advanced hands allow it to use the tools built for astronauts, which removes the need for tools made just for robots. Robo-naut could perform repetitive and hazard-ous extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) on the International Space Station, or serve as the “crew” on a robotic precursor mission to a human landing on Mars. *

Conceptual drawing of the future ExoMars Rover.

The unknown subsea energy sourceIt looks a bit like ice but burns when you light it, and is mostly

found in sediments at the bottom of the ocean. Methane hydrate

might be our next major fossil fuel resource.

Methane hydrate is a frozen mix of water and methane which forms in conditions of low tempera-

ture and high pressure. Crystals of deep-ocean methane hydrates were discovered a few decades ago. Although its true extent is unknown, it is estimated that hydrates represent energy reserves twice as large as all conventional gas, oil, and coal deposits combined. Recently, Japanese scientists dis-covered a methane hydrate deposit large enough to meet the energy-poor country's needs for a decade.

Carbon capture combinationAs yet, no one knows how to exploit this re-source in a safe and profitable manner without damaging impacts on the environ-ment. Methane is known to be a powerful greenhouse gas, and deposits of hydrates may contain free methane which could be released into the atmosphere during sub-sea mining operations.

Two scientists at the University of Bergen, Bjørn Kvamme and Arne Graue, are devel-oping a method which could solve two problems at once. In cooperation with ConocoPhillips, Kvamme and Graue are working on a technique to extract methane gas by injecting liquid carbon dioxide into hydrates, combining carbon capture with fossil energy extraction.

Alaskan trial runAnother advantage of Kvamme and Graue's approach is the reduced risk of sedimentary fracturing and landslides on the ocean floor caused when the CO2 replaces the volume of the methane hydrate lost through min-ing. A trial run of the method will be carried out on the North Slope region of Alaska, which is known to contain huge reserves of methane hydrates. *

A block of methane hydrate crystals (white) embedded in sediment found at a depth of 1200 metres offshore Oregon, USA, by scientists aboard the research ship FS SONNE.

Wikim

edia Foundation

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The Norwegian space industry em-ploys 3000 people, with an annual turnover of more than $1 billion. This

makes it larger than the traditional forestry industry.

As one of the leaders in solar science, Norway has played a central role in the development and processing of data from the SOHO solar observatory. At a time when the influence of the Sun on the Earth's cli-mate is a hotly contested topic, research into "space weather" and other Sun-Earth- related processes is of great value. Training for Mars on SvalbardResearchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim have conducted biological experiments at the International Space Station, and the AMASE (Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expe-

dition) facility on Svalbard is used for train-ing for unmanned and manned Mars mis-sions on a regular basis. Supplying space missionsKongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) pro-vided systems integration for the Cassini-Huygens mission, which is still delivering data of astonishing quality from the planet Saturn. The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (NDRE) developed one of the instruments aboard Cassini, and is also in-volved in instrumentation for the ExoMars project.

KDA delivered the mechanisms that rotate the solar panels on the Rosetta spacecraft, which in 2014 will be the first of its kind to orbit and deploy a landing craft to the nucleus of a comet. KDA also won the con-tract for the delivery of the solar panel and

communications antenna-pointing mecha-nisms for the European Space Agency's new climate satellites, Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-3A.

Designing hybrid rocketsNammo, which has developed advanced rocket motors for military clients since the 1960s, recently signed a contract with Ari-anespace for the delivery of 700 rocket en-gines during the next five years. Nammo is currently working on a unique hybrid rocket design, where the fuel is stored separately in one solid and one liquid component. Hybrid propulsion offers solutions which are both safe and environmentally friendly. Making an Arctic nanosatelliteAISSAT-1 is an ambitious Norwegian space project. This "nanosatellite" consists of a cube measuring only 20 by 20 by 20 centi-meters, weighing in at six kilograms. The

Romsenteret, Bjørn O

ttar Elseth, [email protected]

satellite was launched in July of 2010, and will monitor maritime activities in Arctic waters through the Automatic Identifica-tion System (AIS), a short range coastal traffic system currently used in shipping.

Seagoing vessels of more than 300 gross tons are required to be fitted with AIS, and AISSAT-1 will use this to track ship move-ments in a region of great importance to Norway. The Norwegian Space Center owns the project, with the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment responsible for the technical implementation at a cost of ap-proximately $6 million.

NDRE will test the satellite for a year before Kongsberg Satellite Services takes control. The Norwegian Coastal Administration will integrate the data from AISSAT-1 in its land-based AIS system.

One of Norway's most important contribu-tions to space exploration is the Svalbard Satellite Station (SvalSat), which was estab-lished in 1997. At 78°13' N, SvalSat is the northernmost ground station in the world. This gives it a uniquely favourable position for supporting satellites in a polar orbit. Presently, SvalSat comprises a station build-ing and six antenna systems, up to thirteen metres in diameter. Kongsberg Satellite Services also runs the Trollsat ground station, located at 72°S in Antarctica. *

We are still waiting for the moment when the first

Norwegian enters space, but Norwegian scientists

and businesses are heavily involved in all other

aspects of space exploration.

The Norwegian Space Industry

This image of a model of AISSAT-1 being handed over to Senior Adviser Bjørn Ottar Elseth at the Norwegian Space Centre by Chief Scientist Bjørn T. Narheim at NDRE, shows how small the satellite is.

ESA

In 2014, the European Space Agency's Rosetta lander will touch down on the nucleus of the

comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

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A selection of NASA space technology spinoffs For every public dollar invested in space research

and development, the US government receives $7

back in the form of taxes from space-related business.

Here are some of the many scientific breakthroughs and products directly derived from the space industry:

advanced scheduling systems, structural analysis software, air quality monitors, vir-tual reality and telepresence systems, en-riched baby food, scratch-resistant lenses, pool purification systems, a more aerody-namic golf ball, shock-absorbing materials for sports shoes, programmable pacemak-ers and breast cancer detection systems.

NASA has also contributed to the develop-ment of smoke detectors, flat panel televi-sions, high-density batteries, food packag-ing, freeze-dried technology, hair styling appliances, fogless ski goggles, self-adjust-ing sunglasses, composite golf clubs, hang gliders and art preservation.

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Space spinoffs on the continental shelf

Rechargeable fuel cells in spaceAlthough the principle behind fuel cells was

discovered in 1838, it was NASA that sponsored

the first commercially viable fuel cell as a part

of the manned Gemini project in the 1960s.

Since then, fuel cells – batteries where electricity is generated in reactions between a fuel and an oxidant – have

been a mainstay of manned space explora-tion. Hydrogen and oxygen fuel cells are light and highly effective, and produce wa-ter as a by-product, which is always useful in the vacuum of space. Fuel cell in reverseRecently, the Norwegian company Proto-tech, in collaboration with the Energy Re-search Centre of the Netherlands, has de-veloped a regenerative fuel cell. As the name suggests, it runs the fuel cell process in reverse, generating hydrogen and oxygen from electricity.

Potential satellite boostCommunications satellites are powered by solar panels, which stop working when the satellites pass through the Earth's shadow. Today, batteries are used as back-up power supplies in dark conditions. But batteries are heavy, which in turn increases launch costs. Lightweight fuel cells could poten-tially reduce launch costs and facilitate greater transponder capacity onboard the satellite.

In a longer-term perspective, the technolo-gy may also find a market in the transporta-tion sector, where fuel cells have struggled to gain a foothold.

Without hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, the Apollo missions to the Moon would have been impossible, as the batteries and solar panels of the 1960s were too inefficient. Fuel cells were a disadvantage during the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, however, as the explosion that destroyed most of the spacecraft's oxygen supply (visible on the original photo above) also left it critically low on power. The three Apollo astronauts were saved by the batteries and consuma-bles aboard the lunar module, which were unaffected by the explosion. *

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NASA

Soon, the detection of hazardous gas on oil and gas installations could be faster, more reliable and cheaper

thanks to a project co-funded by the Euro-pean Space Agency (ESA) and the Microsys-tems and Nanotechnology Laboratory at the Norwegian research organisation SINTEF. A tiny detectorThe detection device is known as the Con-trollable Diffractive Optical Element (CDOE), and is based on MEMS or micro-electro-mechanical-systems technology. Basically, the CDOE is a silicon chip that detects methane. It does this by using tiny shifts, equivalent to one hundredth of the width of a human hair, of grid-like silicon gratings

to "tune" the sensor to find gases of interest. The space applications for the 0.5 square centimetre detector are obvious: aboard a manned spacecraft or space station, air quality is a matter of life or death, and gas concentrations need to be monitored con-tinuously. Avoiding false alarmsIn the offshore industry, methane is the main target for the MEMS sensor. Methane is a colourless and odourless gas which can be lethal in high concentrations, causing explosions or asphyxiation. Methane leak-age is a common phenomenon in natural gas drilling operations, and the high relia-bility and ruggedness of a MEMS system >>

Remote sensing and positioning services based on GPS are two areas

where the offshore industry profits from space research. In years to come,

many other space-based technologies will make an impact offshore.

NASA

Field testing rovers on Svalbard, such as this model during the AMASE 2006 expedition, is useful for scientists planning future Mars missions.

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>> is a big bonus in an environment where false alarms can be very costly.

As the cost of manufacturing the CDOE chip falls, it is easy to imagine a wide variety of uses, from air quality monitoring in office buildings to locking systems that prevent an intoxicated driver from starting his car. The Raman SpectrometerIn cooperation with Norwegian space scientists, Statoil is testing technology developed for the European Space Agency's EXOMars mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2018.

The mission consists of a rover that will travel around on the surface of Mars and drill for soil and rock samples at up to two metres beneath the surface. The samples will be ground up and transferred to small boxes on a carousel mechanism, which will move them past a battery of instruments. One of these is a Raman spectrometer, which can analyse the chemical content of a mineral sample by exposing it to laser light.

The Raman laser, named after the Indian physicist who discovered its properties in 1928, has many advantages: it can be built

from ruggedised, commercially available shelfware, and it has the ability to analyse samples from considerable distances. Drill fluid analysisStatoil is currently testing an instrument assembly that includes a Raman laser in or-der to improve the accuracy and speed of the drill fluid analysis. When drilling for oil and gas, the quality of the fluid can tell ge-ologists a lot about the geology of the stra-ta it comes form.

The Raman spectrometer examines the mineralogy of the drill cuttings in the fluid, and immediately transmits the results to the drilling deck. This makes it possible con-tinuously to evaluate the various geological formations encountered by the drill bit.

Keeping production safe with 3DNorwegian offshore operators are currently evaluating RIVOPS (Remote Intuitive Visual Operations System), an alarm interface that is located on top of existing control sys-tems. RIVOPS was developed by a French-Dutch start-up company in collaboration with ESA, making use of the agency's expe-rience in satellite monitoring and emergen-cy management.

By their very nature, space projects are com-plex and costly, involving a large number of processes and technologies that need to be monitored in order to guarantee reliability. ESA's Envisat is a typical example, involving the continuous monitoring of more than 20 000 parameters. This is comparable with a large offshore installation.

The "intuitive" part of the acronym refers to the unique three-dimensional parameter representation, which was developed to im-prove visibility on satellite projects. RIVOPS was developed with the future exploration of the Arctic in mind, where extremely harsh conditions place a premium on the safety and reliability of all systems. *

The Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition was launched in 2003 and is still running. Its goal is to study the geochemical and geo-physical features, and look for biosignatures and life forms, at various field sites on the Svalbard archipelago. The sites were chosen because they are thought to resemble simi-lar areas on Mars, and AMASE is a training ground for scientists and engineers from around the world. It is also a test bed for instruments and equipment that could be used on future Mars missions.

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MEMS or Micro-Electro-Mechani-cal Systems is made up of com-ponents that measure distances

of between 1 and 100 micrometres. MEMS production is based on tried and tested mi-cro-fabrication technology, and the finished units combine various mechanical ele-ments, sensors, actuators and electronics on a silicon substrate similar to that used in computer memory chips.

Observing the oceans from space

The obvious reason is that Mars no longer has any oceans, and only lim-ited ice cover. A probe orbiting Mars

provides excellent views of the whole planet, while at any given time more than three-quarters of our planet is covered in liquid or frozen water.

Even so, space does offer an excellent van-tage point for remote sensing and observa-tion of the Earth. A satellite can cover vast

swathes of the surface with great detail in a short time, as any user of Google Maps will know. But remote sensing satellites do far more than take pictures of the visible surface. Ocean data sensingNASA's pioneering Seasat mission was launched in 1978 and used a synthetic aper-ture radar and other instruments to collect data on sea-surface winds and tempera- >>

It is often said that the planet Mars is better

mapped than the Earth. This is not the fault

of oceanographers, but rather a result of the

planets’ respective geological histories.

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ESA

Page 13: Space energy magasin 2010

>> tures, wave heights, atmospheric water, sea ice features and ocean topography. The TOPEX/Poseidon mission and its suc-cessor, the Ocean Surface Topography mis-sion, used similar instruments to acquire data of great benefit to climate researchers, shipping companies, offshore industries, fisheries management and biologists, to mention just a few. Offshore applicationsFor offshore oil operators, satellites such as these deliver crucial information on ocean circulation patterns, which helps minimise the impact of currents when laying cables and pipelines, for instance.

Remote sensing can also be a useful aid in oil and gas exploration, both onshore and offshore. Natural leaks and seepage in the oceans can be indicators of deposits be-neath the sea floor. The environmental im-pact of oil exploration and production, such as oil spills, cloud cover, sea level rises or the increases in atmospheric CO2 are often best monitored from space.

Ocean current insights The European Space Agency's Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explor-er (GOCE) is a recent and fascinating addi-tion. Launched in 2009, this satellite will bring new insights into ocean currents by combining extremely accurate gravity data with information about sea surface topo-graphy.

To achieve the required accuracy, the satel-lite must orbit as close to the Earth as pos-sible. Even at an orbital height of 260 kilo-metres, there is sufficient atmosphere to

create air drag which would reduce the sat-ellite's orbital altitude over time.

For this reason, GOCE is shaped like an arrow and equipped with fins and an ion (electric) rocket engine that helps it main-tain a stable orbit. GOCE's onboard power is produced with advanced solar panels made of composite materials, manufactured by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

Measuring salinityNASA's Aquarius mission gives us a differ-ent perspective on the oceans and the envi-ronment. With its launch planned for 2011, its goal is to measure the salinity or salt content at the sea surface. This is an impor-tant factor in understanding the water cy-cle, ocean currents and climate change. However, measurements to date have been limited mostly to summertime observa-tions in shipping lanes.

Aquarius will change this radically. Within the first three months of the mission, more salinity data will have been gathered from space than in the previous 125 years of surface-based measurements. Oceanogra-phers expect the mission to cast light on the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, as well as hurricane formation and the effects of the high-latitude "freshening" of sea water.

The surface of the ocean has “hills” and “val-leys” up to two metres in height/depth, and the image above represents a map of the topography of the ocean, similar to a topo-graphic map of the land surface. Unlike land topography, however, ocean topogra-phy is influenced by a number of factors such as winds, ocean currents and tempera-ture. The velocity of ocean currents can be calculated from the “slope” of the surface.

*

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The GOCE satellite orbits so close to the Earth that it requires an aerodynamic shape, guiding fins and an ion rocket to maintain altitude. The first large batch of GOCE data was released in 2010.

ESA

“Drilling up”– The future of

energy in space

Fossil fuel sources are stored solar energy, and most renewable energy sources are driven by the Sun. Tidal

power is of course driven by the Moon, and nuclear and geothermal energy originate from radioactive materials forged by ex-ploding supernovae billions of years ago.

What this means is that when our Earth-based resources run out, we can access a limitless supply of energy generated out-

side our planet. Not that this is going to happen in the immediate future.

Energy on EarthHidden in sand and shale deposits, in mines and beneath the deep ocean, are energy reserves large enough to supply our needs for decades to come. Add to this the known reserves of uranium and thorium, and we are dealing with centuries power genera-tion based on our Earth’s resources.

The ultimate source of base-load electricity generation is fusion power. For decades, sci-entists have tried to replicate the physical processes that makes the stars shine, but with limited success. But sooner or later they will succeed, and when they do, water will become an energy source in its own right.

One litre of water contains enough of the isotope deuterium to provide the energy >>

What seems like an anecdote has huge implications for our energy future:

all energy used on Earth originates in space in one way or another.

NASA

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>> equivalent of 500 litres, or three barrels, of oil. Although the fusion of deuterium results in less radioactive waste than con-ventional nuclear power generation, an ideal clean and efficient process requires use of the isotope Helium-3. Looking to the MoonHelium is extremely rare and inaccessible on Earth, but is abundant in space. Our clos-est source of Helium-3 is the Moon, which may have enough of the element in its crust to provide the human race with pow-er at current levels for ten thousand years.

Once we obtain commercially viable fusion power, the technology required to carry out large-scale mining operations in space will also have developed. NASA is currently planning a trial lunar extraction mission as early as 2015, and the Chinese have hinted that they are considering a similar project.

Mining operations on the Moon will proba-bly be unmanned. With a time delay of only three seconds, it is fairly easy to operate robots remotely from Earth. Once enough Helium-3 has been extracted in an auto-mated factory, it can be transported rapidly to Earth by an electromagnetic canon or "mass driver", powered by solar panels. The Space ElevatorHowever, even though the expected boom in commercial space operators and tourism will result in reduced launch costs, conven-tional chemical rockets are too expensive and dangerous to permit the widespread exploitation of resources in deep space.

The proposed Space Elevator – a cable low-ered 36 000 kilometres from geostationary orbit to a point along the equator – is cur-rently our best hope of reducing launch costs sufficient to permit large-scale mining operations on the Moon.

This is where Norwegian offshore know-how could come into its own. It was previ-ously thought that the Space Elevator needed to be anchored to solid ground, which implied a location somewhere along the equator in Africa, South America or Asia.

However, recent calculations show that the base of the elevator must be mobile. This is partly due to the gravitational influence of the Sun and Moon, which will incite the

elevator to vibrate like an extremely long guitar string.

Inspired by the Ansari X Prize, which led to the development of the world's first com-mercial space aircraft (SpaceShip One), NASA is awarding cash prizes to developers of space elevator technology. In 2009, NASA's "Centennial Challenges" programme awarded $900,000 to Lasermotive, a com-pany that uses laser light for wireless power transmission. As power cables will be far too heavy for use on the space elevator, wireless power is crucial to its success. Collision avoidanceHowever, the main reason is the cloud of “space junk” consisting of tens of thou-sands of discarded objects orbiting Earth at any given moment. The laws of celestial mechanics decree that the orbit of every piece of space junk below geostationary orbit will intersect the Space Elevator sooner or later.

The elevator requires a collision avoidance system, and presently the best option appears to be a movable oil rig which would also act as a launch pad. When a piece of debris is detected to be on collision course, the rig can be moved in such a way as to divert the cable from the oncoming debris.

A successful Space Elevator will open space up to commercial exploitation. But this will not change the fundamentals of energy production. Energy must still be reasonably priced and safe to use if it is to matter on a global scale. Orbital solar powerThese criteria probably disqualify the other great space-based energy initiative: orbital solar power plants. The main advantage of these compared with earth-based photo-voltaics is that they supply an almost con-tinuous supply of undimmed sunlight in geostationary orbit. If the Space Elevator is successful, the cost of transporting and maintaining the panels may well turn out to be cost efficient in competition with ground-based systems.

The main challenge is our perception of safety. The energy from the panels will have to be beamed down as microwave radiation to large receiving facilities on the ground. Apart from the potential harm to birds that

may stray into the energy beam, it is easy to imagine how consumers might react to the idea of radiation beams from space, no matter how weak they might be.

Despite this, a report in 2007 commissioned by the US Defence Department recomm-ends space-based solar power as an energy source for its military forces operating abroad. An 80-metre diameter antenna could receive one MW via microwaves, enough to power a thousand homes, from a satellite in low Earth orbit. "It is impera-tive that this work for 'drilling up' vs. drilling down for energy security begins immedi-ately," the report concludes.

A global thermostat – in space?In the end, the dominant contribution from space may turn out to be in the form of en-ergy reduction. The most daring – some might say extreme – of the climate change mitigating technology proposals is the space-based cloud of mirrors envisioned by US astronomer Roger Angel. Angel, who is a winner of the Norwegian Kavli Prize for As-tronomy in 2010, is proposing the launch of thousands of mirrors into a stable orbit some 1.5 million kilometres above the Earth, oriented in the direction of the sun.

Here, they will form a permanent “sun-screen”. By adjusting the angle of the mir-rors, incoming sunlight could be reduced sufficiently to reduce the Earth's tempera-ture by several degrees. The mirrors could also be used to direct more sunlight to-wards the Earth in effect creating a global thermostat capable of managing tempera-ture shifts in either direction.

Although the consensus view is that we are heading for elevated global temperature in the coming century, there is always the pos-sibility of a massive volcanic eruption which within a few months might cool the planet down by several degrees.

In this perspective, any climate change mitigating technology should have the capability to regulate both increases and reductions in temperature. The Space Eleva-tor will be hugely expensive, but could also serve as an "insurance policy" against cli-matic extremes such as the global cooling that followed the massive eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815.

*

2726

NASA

Concept drawing of a completed space elevator.

Page 15: Space energy magasin 2010

From wood to coal The Oil Age The Future

1.5 m

illio

n BC

: Prim

itive

hum

ans d

isco

ver f

ire

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: Coa

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: Egy

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tery

1830

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netic

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1832

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lt

1869

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1879

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cial

ly su

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oil

wel

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svill

e, P

enns

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nia

1885

: Inv

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the

tran

sfor

mer

for a

ltern

atin

g cu

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ts

1888

: Inv

entio

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the

dry

cell

batt

ery

1900

: The

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t off

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e oi

l wel

ls a

re d

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d in

the

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ian

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1913

: The

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ther

mal

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ns in

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y

1920

: Rob

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unch

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e fir

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led

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et

1941

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firs

t Ger

man

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et is

laun

ched

1942

: US

scie

ntis

ts in

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e fir

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1950

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ak, w

hich

rem

ains

the

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y of

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on p

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rese

arch

1953

: The

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t com

mer

cial

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in B

ritai

n

1954

: Sci

entis

ts a

t Bel

l Lab

orat

orie

s dev

elop

the

sola

r cel

l

1957

: Spu

tnik

1 is

laun

ched

1961

: Yur

i Gag

arin

bec

omes

the

first

hum

an to

orb

it th

e Ea

rth

1969

: Nei

l Arm

stro

ng b

ecom

es th

e fir

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an o

n th

e M

oon

1976

: Vik

ing

I and

II la

nd o

n M

ars,

and

sear

ch fo

r life

1981

: The

laun

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e fir

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pace

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ttle

1989

: Voy

ager

II p

asse

s Nep

tune

, aft

er e

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ring

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ter,

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rn a

nd U

ranu

s

1986

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ed

2001

: Lau

nch

of th

e To

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s, th

e fir

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mm

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ally

succ

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ul h

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icle

2003

: The

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rit a

nd O

ppor

tuni

ty ro

vers

star

t the

ir ex

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s

2009

: Win

d po

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acc

ount

s for

mor

e th

an 2

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of D

enm

ark's

ele

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2010

: The

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2015

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light

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an in

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tel

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: Tho

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mes

Nor

way

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: Chi

na la

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uman

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s

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: Nuc

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wor

ld's

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pite

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Afric

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nion

Space and energy timeline

29

Page 16: Space energy magasin 2010

30

Space and energy

factsTop 5 iPad Space Apps

Planets - your guide to the planets 1

3D Sun - monitoring our star and space weather real time2

NASA apps - news, pictures, missions and moviestime3

Mars - map and history, mining, planet engineering and tourism 4

Apollo 11: The Game 5

Top 10 Space Tech Movies2001 - A Space Odyssey1

Apollo 132

The Right Stuff3

Moon4

Silent Running 5

Mission to Mars6

Alien7

Wall-E8

In the Shadow of the Moon9

Sunshine10

Top 5 Space WebsitesNASA: nasa.gov1

Google Sky: google.com/skytime2

Satellite tracker: heavens-above.com3

Virtual Mars Habitat: exploremarsnow.org4

Solar System Simulator: space.jpl.nasa.gov 5

LLiving at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico are “seep communities” – or-ganisms that utilise natural seepages

of petrochemicals as a food source. This strange ecosystem resembles that found around hydrothermal vents (pictured right), and includes snails, crabs, clams and tube-worms two metres in length. Scientists sus-pect that the worms could live for centuries in the pitch black conditions, more than a one kilometre below the ocean surface. In 2008 the human race consumed close to half a zettajoule (1021 Joules) of energy, more than 80 % of which was derived from the combustion of fossil fuels. This is equiv-alent to the energy content of 200 trillion hamburgers, or 3 % of the solar energy that strikes the Earth every day. With an increas-ingly expanding and affluent population, annual global energy consumption will pass a zettajoule well before 2050.

NO

AA

The first stage of the Saturn V Moon rocket, shown here (left) in full pro-pulsion, burned kerosene as rocket

fuel. Although it generated less energy than the liquid hydrogen used on the Space Shuttle, kerosene rocket fuel is cheaper and easier to manage. It is still used on the Rus-sian Soyuz rockets, widely regarded as the most reliable “man-rated” launch vehicle in the world.

The Ansari X Prize has set its future sights on the deep oceans, and is planning to announce a $10 million prize for a deep-sea submersible that scientists could use to ex-plore the ocean floor and gather complex data. Another X Prize under consideration is for a private, deep ocean submersible which can transport scientists to the ocean floor. Currently only five such craft exist in the world, and all of these are owned by gov-ernments.

The Sun generates 3.846–1026 Watts by converting 4 million tonnes of hydrogen into helium every second

through the process of nuclear fusion. According to Albert Einstein's famous equation E=mc2, this energy equals a mass loss of 600 tonnes a second. Since the Sun started to shine 4.5 billion years ago, it has radiated away a mass equal to that of the Earth simply by means of energy production.

Pressure loss in a space suit is far less serious than losing pressure in a deep-sea diving suit. A common misconception is that rapid decompression in space will lead to astro-nauts "exploding" from within. In reality, after asphyxiation, the greatest danger to an unprotected astronaut in space is the unfiltered ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

According to a study, Saturn's moon Titan may contain hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons

than the Earth. This large, cold moon may also be covered by solid hydrocarbons far outstripping Earth's total coal reserves. In the future, Titan may serve as a fuel stop for manned rocket missions to the outer Solar System or even further afield.

The idea of using mirrors in space to supply energy and control the Earth's climate is not new. In the 1980's, Soviet space scien-tists proposed launching mirrors into polar Earth orbit to reflect sunlight onto Siberia during the winter period of permanent darkness.

Many of the leading investors in the private space sector, and half of the space tourists that have

flown to date, are IT specialists such as Paul Allen (Microsoft), Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com), Elon Musk (PayPal), and Charles Simonyi (pictured right). Since the 1960s, space exploration has not only provided direct benefits to IT development, but has also inspired countless youngsters to take up science and engineering studies. Allen, Bezos, Musk, and Simonyi all belong to the “Apollo generation”.

NASA/SO

HO

31

ESA/NASA

NASA

NASA

Page 17: Space energy magasin 2010

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMME�

The ESA Technology Transfer Programme Office facilitates the use of space technologyand space systems for non-space applications and demonstrates the benet of the European space programme to European citizens. The office is responsiblefor dening the overall approach and strategy for the trans-fer of space technologies, including the incubation of start-up companies and their funding. The TTPO has successfully transferred over 230 space technologies to non-space sectors for applications as diverse as cooling suits for a Formula 1 racing team,ground penetrating radar to detect cracks in mine tunnels and several health-care innovations.

THE ESA TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMME (TTPO)

As part of its endeavour to encourage the transfer and com-mercialisation of space technologies, four ESA Business

Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) have been set up in theNetherlands, Darmstadt and Oberpfaffenhofen in

Germany, and near Rome in Italy. The ESA BICs support selected entrepreneurs with compre-

hensive commercial and technical assistance to help them start up businesses that use space technology in non-space industrial, scientic and commercial elds and have helped create more than 50 new start-up companies in Europe.

ESA BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRES (ESA BICS)

For years, ESA has been bringing space technologies down to Earth through its Technology Transfer Programme and its ESA BICs. Now, the Agency will streng-

then these initiatives by supporting new businesses using space innovations through

a dedicated venture capital fund. The Open SkyTechnologies Fund is an early-stage venture capital

fund aimed at nurturing the most promising businessopportunities arising from space technologies and satellite

applications for terrestrial industries. The OSTF is managed byTriangle Venture Capital Group on ESA’s behalf.

OPEN SKY TECHNOLOGIES FUND(OSTF)

The TTPO uses a network of technology brokers to assess the marketneeds in areas where there is a potential for exploitation of spacetechnologies. The broker network hosts the database of the Technology Forum online market place www.technology-forum.comwhere requests for technologies are matched with available spacetechnologies. In addition, the technology brokers also support thetransfer process itself.

TECHNOLOGY BROKER NETWORK

CONTACT: ESA’S TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMME OFFICE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY WWW.ESA.INT/TTPKEPLERLAAN 1 2200 AG, NOORDWIJK ZH THE NETHERLANDS WWW.ESA.INT/BICTEL: +31 71 565 6208 EMAIL: [email protected] 3332

Page 18: Space energy magasin 2010

Are you ready to think outside the planet?www.thinkoutsidetheplanet.com

NASA

WE SUPPORT ONS SPACE & ENERGY 2010

NASA

The concept of ”Integrated Operations”

contains many dimensions and is used

in several contexts.

For Arena IO it means that the off-shore operations will change a lot the next years mainly because of the

technological shift towards increased auto-mation and increased usage of real-time data from wells and facilities in general. “We will see more remotely controlled equipment and therefore new organisation models for operations,” says the project manager of Arena IO Martin Sigmundstad. “You will get more complex systems, but overall much safer for both personell and environment, and the systems of tomorrow will be smaller, smarter and cheaper com-pared to the large installations today.”

Arena IO played a key role in the first Space & Energy conference which was organised together with Norwegian Space Center and Statoil in Stavanger June 2009.

“It is natural and very beneficial for the energy industry to look at other industries to learn what they are doing. The aero- nautical and space industry has always been interesting in this respect,” continues Sigmundstad which has a long carreer in Statoil behind him. “We will build Arena IO further together with other related pro-grams, and technology transfer with the space industry will be a prime catalyst and inspiration for our new ventures.” *

Arena IO is a network of abt 50 members, mostly companies in the oil & gas business. Innovation Norway, Norwe-gian Research Council and SIVA supports the project which main office is in the innovation park (ipark) in Stavanger. Read more on www.arenaio.no

Arena Integrated Operations

3534

Page 19: Space energy magasin 2010

37

"W e have created the world’s first laboratory for fully auto- matic and autonomous drill-

ing”, says an enthusiastic Kenneth Mikalsen, CTO at Seabed Rig.

For the last 20-25 years, forward-looking companies in the drilling sector have been looking to introduce technology success-fully employed in other industries in order to optimise processes on the drill floor. With its autonomous drilling rig prototype, Seabed Rig AS has introduced robot tech-nology from the auto and health industries and combined it with control system meth-odology from the space sector. The rig pro-totype shows that it is possible to imple-ment this technology on the drill floor and potentially open the door to a virtually unmanned and much more cost-effective drilling process.

“The building blocks that Seabed Rig AS has made available will probably lead to a para-digm shift by which in the future even con-servative drill floor operations can be or-ganised as production cells without human intervention”, says Mikalsen.

For several years, Statoil have supported the development of Seabed Rig, together with the Norwegian Research Council (Petro-maks and DEMO2000) and Innovation Nor-way. They all believe that robotic and auto-matic processes represent the future of drilling.

“Statoil supports creative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. We were initially inter-ested in Seabed Rig because of the oppor-tunities that the drilling unit offered for exploration in the Arctic. The technology Seabed Rig is developing is increasingly important to Statoil. We believe that there is massive potential in automation technol-ogy”, says Sigve Hovda, Chief Engineer for Drilling and Well Facilities at Statoil.

Safe and efficientSeabed Rig AS is developing a seabed drill-ing rig that can carry out cost-effective exploration drilling at the seabed, both in deep waters and in Arctic areas. The Seabed Rig consists of a patented encapsulated and pressure-compensated design. This system is environmentally-friendly with zero dis-charges to the marine environment and the same safety barriers as for conventional drilling. The rig is unmanned and operates using automated and robotic processes remotely controlled and supervised from an interactive 3D interface.

The Seabed Rig is assisted by a surface ves-sel and connected via an umbilical that car-ries its control cables and power supply, to-gether with supplying drilling fluids. The advantages of carrying out drilling opera-tions from the seabed include less depend-ence on weather, no heave compensation or rigid riser systems, reduced mud back pressure, and an absence of personnel on the rig. By automating the rig, workers are not exposed to hazards. Moreover, an auto-mated rig is less susceptible to human er-rors – the source of several major incidents in the past.

“Our aim is to make the system both safer and more efficient than any exploration rig currently in operation”, says Kenneth Mikalsen.

Inspired by spaceSeabed Rig AS has designed intelligent robots, controlled using software supplied by the American company Energid Techno-logies Corporation. The software was origi-nally developed for NASA and the National Science Foundation for controlling complex robotic systems.

“Robots can carry out very precise work, and do it well, but in order to develop this drill-ing rig we needed an extra level on top of

the standard robot technology. Many un-foreseen things can happen during the drilling process. We wanted an autono-mous system, and looked to the space industry for inspiration”, says Mikalsen.

Communication and ControlIn order to design a drilling system with autonomous capabilities, it has been essen-tial to develop machines that can perform independently within an overall machine constellation. All machines are designed to be self-contained and independent, mean-ing that they all possess the necessary components and systems for their opera-tion. Each machine has its own communi-cation and power interface. This means that if one machine breaks down it will not have any influence on the function of the other machines in the system.

Each machine contains its own axis control-ler, and a full 3D model of the entire rig. This means that all the machines have full control at all times of the whereabouts of all the other components within the rig. This gives the machines the capability to synchronise their movements with respect to each other, thus optimising the overall process and avoiding collisions. All machines continuously broadcast their status on a local network.

“A software application in the control centre contains a complete 3D model of the entire rig. The software updates the 3D model in real time as the machines alter their physi-cal configuration, thus providing the opera-tor with a complete 3D interface to the rig. The operator can navigate within the 3D model to get a closer look at the various machines and processes. This interface can easily be remotely hooked up via a standard internet connection”, explains Mikalsen. *

36

Safer drilling with

Seabed Rig

Seabed Rig is developing technologies for a cleaner, safer and more effective

way to drill. They have created a robotic underwater drilling platform that

can be deployed on the ocean floor, enabling the safer exploration of ultra-

deep water and Arctic regions − both difficult and sometimes impossible

to access with traditional rigs. The autonomous drilling process represents

a revolution in the oil and gas industry.

Seabed Rig AS is a Stavanger-based company currently developing an inno-vative seabed-based drilling rig designed to carry out cost-effective drilling in deep waters and Arctic areas. The Seabed Drilling Rig con-sists of a patented, environmentally-friendly and encapsulated design that guarantees zero discharges to the marine environment and the same safety barriers as for conven-tional drilling. The system is equipped as a complete and fully-automated seabed drill-ing rig, remotely controlled from a surface vessel.

The development of the rig is supported by Statoil, the Norwegian Research Council (Petromaks and DEMO2000) and Innovation Norway. Read more on www.seabedrig.com

Page 20: Space energy magasin 2010

38

A t Telenor’s head office at Fornebu staff are working in preparation for the commercial utilisation on

future satellites of the new Ka frequency band. If everything goes according to plan the new satellite will be ready in 3 or 4 years. “A new satellite will provide greater oppor-tunities for us, especially now that we want to focus even more on providing offshore and maritime services”, says Hege Lunde, Director of Business Development. “An ever-expanding satellite fleet is good news for anyone travelling on the high seas. More and more vessels have parabolic antennas that can access services such as TV, radio and the internet – all you need is a satellite station equipped with a parabolic antenna”.

In the first instance, TSBc is planning to in-crease its Northern European coverage, and to broadcast using the Ka band, which uti-lises higher frequencies than today’s Ku

band. “This is something completely new for the maritime sector", says Hege Lunde. “Utilising the Ka band will give us more new capacity, and we will be able to offer more services”.

Private householdsTSBc is probably best known for its satellite services to the home TV market. Via THOR 5, THOR 6, and the Intelsat 10-02 satellite, on 1° west we broadcast in excess of 683 TV channels and 115 radio stations to Scandi-navia and the rest of Europe. This makes TSBc one of Europe’s leading providers in the satellite communications market.

“Our aim is to strengthen our position in the offshore and maritime sectors”, says Hege Lunde. “Telenor has always competed in this market, although perhaps better known in the past as Telenor Satellite Serv-ices (Vizada).”

FocusIn recent years, TSBc has made major invest-ments in its satellite fleet. In 2008, THOR 5 was launched on a Russian Proton-M carrier rocket from the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan. TSBc’s most recent satellite is THOR 6, launched from Kourou in French Guiana in October last year. THOR 6 will combined with THOR 5 double the capacity of Telenor’s satellite fleet.

QualityAn Ariane 5 rocket carried THOR 6 to a Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) before the satellite was placed in its final location, 1 degree West, some 36,000 kilometres above the equator. It was built by the French company Thales Alenia Space.

“Once a satellite is launched, you never get your hands on it again, so we have very demanding test requirements during man-

Telenor satellites to focus on offshore and shipping markets

Since 2008 Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) has launched two satellites,

THOR 5 and THOR 6, and the next is already in the planning stage.

ufacturing”, says Oddveig Tretterud, Direc-tor of Space Systems. In order to guarantee the highest possible quality prior to launch, Oddveig supervises the construction pro-cess very carefully, making sure that the manufacturer follows quality requirements to the letter. “It takes about two years to build a satellite tailored to our specifica-tions”, she says.

All TSBc satellites are located in 1 degree West, and broadcast TV signals into a total of 16.6 million households in Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe.

“This location is one of the most sought after for TV broadcasts in this area", says Tretterud. “This is good news for us – also in terms of maritime communications. Currently, fibre provide the primary communications links to the mainland, and many years of subsea fibre cable laying has usurped the satellites. But as new areas, such as the Arctic, open up for offshore oil and gas development, we are well placed to deliver satellite commu-nications services. Laying new fibre cables is expensive and time-consuming, whereas satellites can get services up and running really quickly”, she says.

BillionsTHOR 6 cost NOK 1.3 billion. This is a major investment, even for an anticipated satel-lite lifetime of 15 years. THOR 6 has a wing-span of 30 metres, although the module housing the payload measures only 2.3 by 1.8 by 2.8 metres. It is equipped with three antennas and two wings carrying solar cell panels.

A satellite must maintain a fixed position within the field of view of the antenna on the ground at all times. Operators at TSBc’s offices at Fornebu are working continuously to ensure that the satellites remain in their correct positions despite their tendency to drift off course due to the influence of the Sun and Moon. Fuel onboard the satellites is used to power small thrusters until, after about 15 years, most has been consumed and the satellites are taken out of service.

In the beginningOverall responsibility for day-to-day opera-tions rests with Torstein Solberg who has been working with satellite services since 1985. Telenor’s involvement with satellites extends back to 1975.

“It all began with satellite communications to the Ekofisk, Statfjord and Valhall oil fields in the North Sea”, he explains. “Operating companies entered into agreements with the then Televerket organisation concern-ing the development of satellite-based sys-tems that would enable us to offer telex and and telephony connections between the oil installations and the mainland”, says Solberg, who is now Director of Operations at TSBc.

Before satellites were established, all com-munication between the platforms and the mainland was carried out using radio tele-phony. The NORSAT system that came into operation in 1976 carried telephony and data traffic to installations in the North Sea and eventually also to Svalbard. The opera-tors utilised closed and private networks on the shelf itself, while Televerket was respon-sible for satellite transmissions between the installations and the mainland. In 1995 fibre cables came onto the scene, and the first cable was laid to the Troll A platform.

Solberg believes that oil and gas operations in the North Sea enabled the company to acquire expertise in the use of satellite technology. Over the years, the company has developed into a major player in the satellite communications sector.

“TSBc currently employs 165 staff, mostly in Oslo, but we also have offices in London and in Sofia in Bulgaria. The planning of a new satellite and, not least, the fact that we can now utilise the Ka band, gives us the oppor-tunity to increase our future focus on the off- shore and maritime markets.”, says Solberg.

*

casting (TSBc) provides exten-sive broadcasting and VSAT land-based and maritime satellite solutions through-out the Nordic countries, Europe and the Middle East, utilising SCPC, MCPC, iDirect, DVBS2 and DVB-RCS technology. Its satel-lite fleet operates at the prime orbital location of 1° West, the leading position for broadcasting services in the Nordic region, a “hotspot” location in Central and Eastern Europe and an established plat-form for Datacomms services. TSBc has also established inclined-orbit satellite operations at the 4° West orbital position.Read more on www.telenorsbc.com

Telenor Satellite Broad-

39

Oddveig Tretterud – Director Space SystemsTorstein Solberg – Director Operations

Hege Lunde – Business Development Director

Page 21: Space energy magasin 2010

Houston – we have the solution!Technology giant National Oilwell Varco (NOV) is supporting the world’s

oil and gas drilling and production industries with innovative solutions.

The company sees a connection between the technology it develops for

oil and gas production and that needed to carry out a space mission.

NOV envisions a number of areas in which offshore technology can benefit

the space sector.

"B oth space missions and oil and gas production involve expensive and highly complex operations

carried out in remote and unknown terri-tory. They involve a great deal of planning, testing and advanced technology. We be-lieve that much of the technology we have developed can be useful for the space in-dustry”, says Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Hege Kverneland.

In the years to come, NOV is looking for-ward to exchanging know-how and tech-nology with NASA, the Norwegian Space Centre and the European Space Agency.

Harsh environmentsBoth the oil and gas sector and the space industry operate in harsh environments. Due to the Earth’s planetary orbit around the sun, its surfaces are exposed to both ex-treme heat and cold. These extreme envi-ronments parallel those encountered in the oil and gas industry. Whether in the ex-treme cold of the Arctic, or the blistering heat of the desert, the operating environ-ment represents a key design criterion for modern drilling rigs. This also applies to the tools used to drill the wellbore.

“In order to maximise tool life and prevent non-productive downtime, we utilise a vari-ety of coatings to protect equipment from corrosion, abrasion, and wear and tear. The coatings, combined with our diamond cut-ter technology, enable us to drill through all types of formations – both on the Earth and Moon”, says Corporate PSDT Manager, Geir Skaugen.

Reduced risk and the cost of failureThe space industry is highly vulnerable to the risk of failure during missions. This is also something that the oil and gas sector can relate to. Due to the criticality of fail-ures during oilfield operations, appropriate precautionary steps must be taken to avoid potential disaster. Applications such as re-

dundancy, modular design, and Hardware in the Loop (HIL) testing have been put in place to mitigate risk. All of these approach-es can be beneficial to the space industry.

“Redundancy refers to the duplication of critical components in the drilling process with the aim of increasing system reliability. An example of this is the duplication of instrumentation to avoid risk of failure”, explains Skaugen.

Several rig packages utilise the concept of modular design during integration of the many components of the drilling process. The benefits of modular design include the ease of isolating trouble points during a given process, as well as providing simple “plug and play” capabilities when replacing modular units. To avoid potential failure in the field, Hardware in the Loop (HIL) simu-lation is utilised in the product develop-ment phase to test rig equipment over a wide range of conditions. This technique involves using machine control software that runs virtual machines emulating the physical equipment to be used on the rig. This allows proactive steps to be taken to adjust design faults before equipment is installed.

“These methods serve as precautionary measures reducing the potential for acci-dents in the oilfield situation. Because fail-ure can be so costly, any opportunity to mitigate and eliminate risk receives mas-sive attention. The outcome is reduced downtime and safer working conditions”, says Engineering Director, Kjell Magne Stangeland.

Forward-looking technologies and services National Oilwell Varco has more than 37,000 employees worldwide. From its in-ception as BLM in 1841, the company has evolved into one of the world’s largest sup-pliers of equipment and services to the oil and gas drilling and production industries.

“We deliver everything needed for the drill-ing “From bit to crown – all the way down”. The company is committed to the develop-ment of new technologies and services de-signed to further enhance our customers’ operations. It continues to advance the de-sign of familiar components such as draw works, travelling equipment and pumps – all in order to improve performance, safety, and integration into today’s automated rigs”, says Senior Sales Manager, Tor Asle Garborg.

Career opportunitiesIts continuous focus on technological de-velopment and improvement means that NOV is always looking for talented engi-neers, designers and technicians. Since it is an international company, it can offer career opportunities at several locations both in Norway and worldwide. “NOV offers exciting challenges for our em-ployees. Although we are a large organisa-tion, we are light on our feet. It’s easy to get things done, and to make changes. We have very low staff turnover, but a high turn-around”, says Marketing Manager, Colleen Delane-Skibsrud. *

National Oilwell Varco is a world leader in the supply of major mechanical components for onshore and offshore drilling rigs, complete land drill-ing and well servicing rigs, tubular inspec-tion and internal tubular coatings, drill string equipment and comprehensive lift-ing and handling equipment. It offers a broad range of downhole drilling motors, bits and tools. National Oilwell Varco also provides supply chain services via its net-work of distribution service centres located at major drilling and production locations worldwide. Read more on www.nov.com

Thomas Aanundsen

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Page 22: Space energy magasin 2010

The space and subsea sectors are ad-vanced and highly technical. Many operations are carried out in unfamil-

iar environments, and operational costs are very high. When something goes wrong repair work is very expensive. DNV is work-ing to reduce the risk of malfunctions oc-curring during space and subsea opera-tions.

DNV has been working for many years with the European Space Agency (ESA) on a range of different projects. It signed its first contract with the ESA in 1986 to monitor technical and safety aspects of the Europe-an manned spaceflight programme. That same year DNV helped initiate the joint venture Formentor project established to develop a computer-based system to iden-tify and respond to malfunctioning rocket equipment.

Over the years DNV has been involved in a wide range of projects from detailed tech-nical safety analysis to the development of

an overall certification scheme for the Gali-leo satellite navigation system, which is the European counterpart to the US Global Po-sitioning System (GPS).

Currently, DNV’s most important service re-lated to the European space industry is ISVV (Independent Software Verification and Validation). This involves the independent and complementary analysis of software requirements, design, source code and test-ing of software used in critical control sys-tems onboard satellites. It is mandatory in the space industry to employ an independ-ent organisation for this purpose. DNV is a leading organisation in this field and has also been responsible for the development of ESA’s guide to ISVV.

“We are literally working to make sure that a satellite doesn’t get lost in space”, says Kenneth Kvinnesland, Head of Space Activi-ties at DNV. “Working with ESA is very excit-ing. We are involved in many research projects for the agency and this allows us to

try out new methods and techniques as part of really ground-breaking satellite projects. Most of the satellite programmes continue for several years, so we get a lot of opportunity to carry out research”, says Kvinnesland.

Learning from the oil and gas industryAlthough the space industry represents ground-breaking territory it is still looking to other sectors for inspiration.

“The ESA asked us to look onto safety re-quirements for control room operation, of-ten known as ground control. The ESA wanted us to compare its safety require-ments for control room design and opera-tion with those used in the oil and gas and air traffic control sectors. The ESA were par-ticular interested in the requirements re-lated to human factors that affect control room operations.

Where the subsea meets spaceThe safe and robust operation of technical

Remote,complex and expensive to fixDet Norske Veritas (DNV) is a service and solutions provider that works with

companies in most industrial sectors, helping them to manage risk. Space

and subsea operations represent two of the many sectors where DNV helps

companies to manage business risk, safety, environmental performance,

and to meet technology challenges along the entire value chain.

systems is increasingly dependent on safe and reliable software. Consequently, the ability to assess, verify and validate soft-ware-based systems is of the utmost im-portance to most industries.

For systems located in remote and harsh environments for prolonged periods it is also important to be able to continue oper-ation after a system failure has occurred. Over the years, the space industry has de-veloped very sophisticated, staged, fallback strategies as a basis for the design of fault-

tolerant systems. Other industries with simi- lar challenges can draw on this experience.

In fact, the technology in embedded control systems used in the space and subsea sec-tors is very similar, and experience can thus be transferred quite easily. Fault-tolerant design can be carried out in similar ways, and we are able to use the same techniques for software analysis. The transfer of knowl-edge to other industries represents our most important reason for working with space projects”, explains Kvinnesland. *

DNV was established in 1864 as an independent foundation, and works to safeguard life, property and the environ-ment. As a world-leading certification body, DNV provides certification, verifi-cation, training and assessment services to companies and organisations world-wide. DNV has 9,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Read more on www.dnv.com

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ESA

Page 23: Space energy magasin 2010

44

Our unique total concept, embracing an exhibition, a conference and an exciting cultural festival, has made us one of the key events bringing movers

and shakers in this business together.

ONS aims to be in the forefront of exploring new areas where knowledge, technology and expertise combine to make new breakthroughs. Technology transfer between the space and energy sectors is such an area and can result in new businesses, new jobs and new technologies.

The future of the international oil and gas industry depends increasingly on its ability to develop new ground-breaking technologies, and ONS has always focused on such technologies. The oil and gas industry is closely linked to the rest of the energy cluster when it comes to address-ing major technological challenges, and it is natural for us to look to the aerospace industry for inspiration, know-how and technology.

ONSBy focusing on innovation

and encouraging you to open your

mind to the latest developments,

ONS gives you the tools you need

to tackle the energy industry

of tomorrow.

45

– space and energy

Page 24: Space energy magasin 2010

Ipark, the Stavanger Innovation Park is an international centre for research, inno-vation and business development. Ipark

is part of an expertise centre located at Ullandhaug where the International Re-search Institute of Stavanger (IRIS) and the University of Stavanger (UiS) are important partners.

The Incubator is an Ipark department desig-ned to promote the development of new businesses, and each year 25 newly-estab-lished companies are adopted. They are all allocated expert advisers and access to a network that can help them to convert their innovative business ideas into commercial enterprises. The ideas range from highly specialised oil industry technology, to green enterprises, aviation. Focus areas are energy, food and nutrition industry and ICT.

Incubator companies that have ”flown the nest” Companies such as Seabed Rig, Cubility and Typhonix have all started out as newly- established companies at the Ipark Incuba-tor, and were given vital assistance during the difficult start-up phase.

Seabed Rig AS was founded in 2005. In 2010 a full scale prototype of the company’s innovative seabed drilling rig was built in collaboration with Statoil which now owns 20% of the company. Both the Arena pro-gramme’s integrated operations network (Arena IO) and the company Simtano from Ipark have acted as advisors and door open-ers providing essential access to contacts in both Norway and the USA (NASA).

Cubility AS has developed ground-breaking technology for the treatment of drilling

fluids and the separation of drill cuttings. At ONS 2008 the company was awarded the SME Innovation Award, and in the Spring of 2009 the Mudcube was installed on Statoil’s Oseberg field.

Typhonix AS has developed a unique valve that represents a quantum leap in the field of improved oil recovery technologies. The valve has been tested everywhere from the inventor’s barn, Statoil’s research centre in Porsgrunn, and now also at the company’s own new laboratory at Varhaug. In the new Year (2011) it will be tested at a North Sea field.

GeoRigg is one of the new Ipark Incubator companiesThe company was founded and adopted into the Incubator in the Autumn of 2009. GeoRigg’s aim is to develop a cost-effective method of drilling to exploit geothermal heat. This concept was recently rewarded with DnB NOR’s regional Innovation Prize and is thereby invited to the Norwegian na-tional final in September.

Prekubator TTO The company Prekubator AS is integrated with the Ipark Incubator and functions as the region’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO). Prekubator is working in close colla-boration with researchers currently devel-oping ground-breaking technologies and methods that show great potential. As a result of collaboration with Prekubator, these ideas will develop into commercial products and services.

Prekubator is responsible in Rogaland for the FORNY-program and the Innomed-pro-gram. Both focused on Innovation. Prekuba-tor has together with research environ-

ments, investors and industry created new companies and established cooperation based on technology licenses.

General information about IparkIpark is located on the university campus at Ullandhaug, about 5 kilometres from Stavanger city centre. About 150 companies, employing about 800 personnel, share approx. 35,000 square metres of office space spread across 8 buildings. “Måltidets Hus” (building i7) was opened in the Spring of 2009, and is a unique centre dedicated to the food and nutrition industry. The vision leading from gastronomy and science to industry and a passion for food is reflected in the range of technological developments taking place there.

The last building (designated i8) was com-pleted in January 2010. Among other things, this houses the University of Stavanger’s Centre for Organelle Research (CORE). The buildings are owned and administered by Ipark Eiendom AS. *

Ipark

ever innovation park Innovation and creativity have always been important elements in the economy of the Stavanger region. With the creation of Norway’s first-ever innovation park in 1993, the region made a clear commit-ment to promoting new companies. The aim was to provide the best frame condi-tions for new concepts and smart ideas in order to turn them into viable enterprises. Read more on www.ipark.no

Ipark – Norway's first-

47

the Stavanger Innovation Park Ipark brings together bright ideas, entrepreneurs, an active

business community, the ways and means, an R&D community

and Arena projects. And this produces results.

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Page 25: Space energy magasin 2010

The battery packs are heavy and also account for a considerable proportion of a satellite’s total launch costs. Re-

search and development company CMR Prototech wants to improve this situation with its regenerative fuel cell (RFC) technol-ogy. Since its spin-off from the Christian Michelsen Research centre in 1988, Proto-tech has been developing fuel cells for space, oil and gas, transportation and ener-gy applications.

A fuel cell is similar to a battery, but pro-duces its electricity from hydrogen and oxy-gen instead of battery acids. The by-product of this process is water, and if the process is reversed, a fuel cell can effectively recharge itself by utilising electricity to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water. In combi-nation with a traditional solar panel, the fuel cell can use this regenerative process to recharge while there is plenty of sunlight available, and provide much-needed power when the satellite’s solar panel is in shadow.

“Prototech’s regenerative fuel cell systems represent a lighter alternative to current satellite back-up power systems and has the potential to reduce launch costs and facilitate greater transponder capacity on board the satellite”, says CEO Marian N. Melle. “Motivated by the potential weight savings, the European Space Agency (ESA) has initiated a series of studies on regener-

ative fuel cell systems for telecom satellites. RFC technology from Prototech represents a promising alternative to current power supply systems used in geo-stationary communication satellites”.

The original research into Prototech’s fuel cell technology started decades ago at the Christian Michelsen Institute, later to be known as Christian Michelsen Research. When CMR Prototech was established as a separate organisation in 1988, funding for fuel cell research was provided mainly by the oil and gas industry, but the growing interest in efficient energy conversion has promoted expansion of their market.

With 40 employees and its research and de-velopment facilities in Bergen, Prototech is gearing up for a breakthrough in fuel cell utilisation. In addition to its collaborative efforts with the ESA, Prototech has supplied a fuel cell prototype to BKK (Norway’s sec-ond largest power producer). The 3 kW solid oxide fuel cell produces clean energy from natural gas while simultaneously enabling the straightforward capture of CO2. As part of a different environmental project, the lo-cal ferry MF Vågen in Bergen has been equipped with a zero-emission fuel cell to recharge its battery-powered propulsion system, thus removing its dependency on polluting diesel generators located in the harbour. *

More efficient satellites from

CMR Prototech

Telecommunications satellites are powered

by solar panels, but during certain periods, they

pass through the shadow of the Earth where solar

power is inaccessible. For this reason, a back-up

power source is required, and modern satellites

carry rechargeable batteries which provide the

power necessary during the eclipse.

CMR Prototech is a provider of technical solutions, product development and manufacturing services covering ap-plications from space to consumer prod-ucts.

Prototech supplies the space industry with structural components for satellites and launchers as well as experimental modules for scientific experiments. Many telecommunications satellites currently in operation are equipped with advanced equipment housings supplied by Proto-tech.

Prototech has established close collabora-tive relations with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Norwegian Space Centre. Read more on www.prototech.no

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Page 26: Space energy magasin 2010

Biota Guard AS was co-found-ed in 2005 by IRIS Forskningsinvest AS and Procom Venture AS. The company’s main objective is to offer the oil and gas and maritime industries the opportunity to improve their environmental manage-ment capabilities. The Biota Guard system has been developed with financial sup-port from, and in close collaboration with, Statoil ASA, Eni Norge AS, ConocoPhillips Norge, Shell Norge, GdF SUEZ Norge and Total E&P Norge. Additional funding has been provided by the Norwegian Research Council (PETROMAKS programme), Inno-vation Norway and the SR-Bank Nærings-utvikling Foundation. Read more on www.biotaguard.no

50

Vidar Skålevik

Real time environmental monitoring with

51

Biota Guard

"Biota Guard is a flexible system consisting of a number of biologi-cal sensors”, says Eirik Sønneland,

CEO at Biota Guard. “The system monitors all man-made interventions such as oil rigs, floating wind turbines and subsea installa-tions – in harbours, estuaries and other sensitive coastal areas”. Mussel power protects the environ-mentOne of Biota Guard’s biological sensors is the common blue mussel. The company monitors the life signs of individual mussels. “These bivalves close incrementally when exposed to pollutants or when experienc-ing physical stress due to other threats. The mussel's heart rate is also affected by fac-tors in its immediate surroundings”, says Eirik Sønneland.

The Biota Guard system also combines advanced biosensor technology with chem-ical and physical sensors configured in adaptive sensor arrays which continuously monitor the marine environment. The data collected are analysed in real-time by multi-variate statistical tools and any events are evaluated by expert in the Biota Guard Expert Centre, which facilitates a multi-

discipline work environment. Environmen-tal effects are measured in real time and corrective actions can be taken before an operational event develops into a serious environmental problem.

“The system can transfer data using radio, acoustic telemetry and cable”, says Sønne-land. “Data signals are transmitted onshore for analysis using algorithms and graphical representations. The system user can moni-tor environmental status 24 hours a day, and will be notified of any pollution detected in the area in question. If necessary, it is also possible to go back in time to document the effects of known toxic discharges. The system also contributes towards maintain-ing a valuable data acquisition process which can be used to record the long-term effects of operational activity in a given region”.

Arctic ChallengesBiota Guard is now working on a new project – “Biota Guard Arctic”.

“Our objective is to develop, test and dem-onstrate to the offshore oil & gas industry an environmental impact monitoring sys-tem adapted for application in the Arctic”,

says Sønneland. “We are developing a new, remotely deployed Arctic monitoring sys-tem, incorporating an array of new and esta- blished biological and physical sensors that will provide real time environmental infor-mation. The objective is to evaluate and develop real time biosensors and to test their capacity for monitoring offshore oil and gas operations in Arctic waters”.

Biota Guard was co-founded in 2005 by the International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS) and Procom Venture. IRIS is a principal partner in the project. Funding from the Research Council of Norway’s PETROMAKS programme has been essential in enabling the company to carry out its project.

A primary objective of the PETROMAKS pro-gramme is to promote the environmentally sound development of petroleum activities on the Norwegian continental shelf. The authorities have stipulated stringent zero-emissions requirements on petroleum activities in the Arctic due to the area’s important fisheries resources and the gen-eral vulnerability of the environment to external factors. *

Increasing environmental awareness has made environmental manage-

ment into a major strategic factor in the sphere of global competition among

oil companies. While satellites currently monitor the ocean surface, there

is also a need for new insights into the oceans themselves. It is no longer

enough simply to monitor man-made changes in the oceans in real time

− we also need to know more about the biological and ecological impacts

of such changes. The Biota Guard System respond to both challenges.

Page 27: Space energy magasin 2010

Eatops uses space technology

to monitor offshore oil and gas fields

52

With the help of ESA technology used in the

monitoring and control of satellites, a start-up

company at ESA's Business Incubation Centre

has developed a system to monitor offshore

oil and gas installations.

"Our Remote Intuitive Visual Operations System (RIVOPS) is based upon years of ESA expe-

rience in the monitoring of satellites and the handling of emergency situations. It is an alarm monitoring system that sits on top of conventional distributed control sys-tems used by offshore oil and gas explora-tion companies,” says Alexandre Van Damme from the French-Dutch start-up company EATOPS.

In an offshore installation, thousands of pa-rameters have to be monitored continu-ously. By combining them into clusters, and applying a series of filtering algorithms, RIVOPS provides a clean, graphical and in-tuitive overview of all emergency situations that can occur in an oil rig or similar off-shore structure.

EATOPS’ RIVOPS adds functionality to the monitoring systems already in use to supervise the installations, and helps oil and gas rig operators to spot and identify problems more quickly and efficiently.

Space technology increases safetyAt ESA, the concept of grouping parameters into major clusters which are then moni-tored has been developed and refined dur-ing years of satellite control. The way of or-ganising the monitoring of the satellite parameters and using intuitive visualisa-tion techniques has proved to be a safe methodology that ensures faster decision-making.

This has made it possible to handle and continuously monitor a large number of parameters with the help of relatively few operators. For Envisat, Europe’s largest satellite, operators have to monitor over 20 000 parameters, which is comparable to that of a large offshore oil and gas installa-

tion. “Within seconds, the operator can identify where alarms originate and, more importantly, how they are related. RIVOPS can constantly supervise large installations, such as the ones for oil and gas fields, and provide the operators with a sharp under-standing of the emergency scenario in real time, which increases the overall safety on the rigs,” explains Van Damme.

Van Damme is the co-inventor of RIVOPS. This system was developed using proven ESA technology to display the control of its satellites, consisting of a console that pro-vides an intelligent overview of the alarm situation. It was developed at ESA’s Busi-ness Incubation Centre at ESTEC in Noord-wijk, the Netherlands, with the support of ESA's flight controllers, as well as expertise from the North Sea offshore oil and gas control centres in Den Haag and Den Helder in the Netherlands, and Stavanger in Norway.

Novel 3D display for improved overviewAnother innovative aspect of RIVOPS is that, compared to many conventional industrial monitoring systems, it uses 3D representa-tion to display the status of all parameters. This was developed for satellite control in order to improve visibility. Transferred to RIVOPS, a whole range of features designed specifically for offshore oil and gas rigs was added.

RIVOPS is under evaluation by several North Sea installations in Norwegian and Dutch waters. Van Damme foresees that it could provide additional safety for future explora-tion planned for the Arctic area, where the fragile polar ecosystem and extremely harsh conditions call for extra careful monitoring, such as the vast Shtokman gas field in the Barents Sea, estimated to be one of the world’s biggest unexploited gas reserves.

“Located 600 km north of Kola Peninsula, icebergs, 27-metre waves, and tempera-tures down to -50°C, pose extreme require-ments on the technology and systems needed to extract gas and transport it to the shores of Europe, Russia and North America,” says Van Damme. "For such sensi-tive installations, all possible precautions should be taken, deploying our RIVOPS could provide extra safety."

Spin-off through ESA’s Business Incubation Centre“This is an excellent example of how space technology can benefit society,” explains Bruno Naulais, ESA Business Incubation Manager. “EATOPS based their system on well-proven technology we use at ESA to monitor all our satellites. Located at the ESA Business Incubation Centre in ESTEC, EAT-OPS has been able to accelerate the spin-off to the offshore business. Our specialists in satellite monitoring have helped EATOPS to transfer proven functionality from our appli- cations to their novel system.” *

EATOPS SARL is a spin-off from the European Space Agency. Founded in 2006, the company is commercializing an alarm monitoring console for offshore control rooms. Its objective is to increase the awareness of the operators by reduc-ing the number of alarms and a smart alarm visualisation. EATOPS' focus is on alarm grouping presentation techniques making the job of the operator more intuitive. The firm is deploying its tech-nology in France and the Netherlands, counting TOTAL E&P among its custom-ers. The product is distributed in Norway by Advanced Control A.S. in collaboration with VisCo Interactive Solutions A.S. Read more on www.eatops.com

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Page 28: Space energy magasin 2010

WORLD CLASS – achieved with people, technology and dedication

With more than 5,000 employees in 25 countries, KONGSBERG is among

the world’s leading manufacturers of high-technology systems for customers

in the oil and gas sector, the merchant marine, and the defence and aero-

space industries. Kongsberg’s subsidiary companies Kongsberg Seatex

and Kongsberg Satellite Services are world leaders in their respective fields

and supply products to both the space and the offshore energy sectors.

Space-based technology and services are crucial elements in a wide range of KONGSBERG systems. For this rea-

son KONGSBERG is researching and devel-oping such technology to make sure that we continue to supply leading systems to our customers. This article provides some examples of such initiatives.

Kongsberg Seatex is a marine electronics manufacturer providing products and sys-tems facilitating precise positioning and motion sensing, while Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) is a commercial satellite service and information provider.

Both Kongsberg Seatex and KSAT are invol-ved in AISSat-1 – a Norwegian experimental satellite that will be used by the maritime authorities as an additional means of en-suring safety at sea in the Arctic regions. The system will make it easier to identify and coordinate vessels during search and rescue operations, and to assist and moni-tor the transport of dangerous goods and cargo. The satellite was successfully launched from India on 12 July this year.

AISSat-1 is equipped with technology devel-oped and built in a collaborative effort be-tween the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Kongsberg Seatex, the Nor-wegian Coastal Administration and the Norwegian Space Centre. It is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Indus-try. Kongsberg Satellite Services' ground station on Svalbard is utilised for AISSat-1 operations.

(KONGSBERG) is an international, knowledge-based group that supplies high-technology systems and solutions to customers in the oil and gas sector, the merchant marine, and the defence and aerospace industries. In 2009, KONGS-BERG had a turnover of NOK 13.8 billion and employed 5,423 persons in more than 25 countries. Read more on www.kongs-berg.com

Kongsberg Gruppen

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“Norway and Kongsberg have been at the forefront of leading technology and sys-tems in this field. We are therefore very pleased to have the opportunity to provide the AIS payload for AISSat-1” says Gard Ueland, President of Kongsberg Seatex AS. “The AISSat programme fits in very well with our aim to supply the best systems to our customers for safe navigation, position-ing and operation in demanding offshore and maritime applications. The Arctic repre-sents such an area”.

Maritime Situational Awareness servicesAIS information from the satellite will also be used in the KSAT Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) system that provides glo-bal near real-time oil spill and vessel detec-tion services.

Satellite-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide repeated and extensive coverage of the Earth’s surface independ-ent of weather and light conditions, and has therefore become one of the most im-portant sensors used in operational marine environmental monitoring. KSAT has provided services utilising satel-lite radar images for the detection of oil spills since 1998. Today this service is fully operational, and information about oil spills and their potential sources is supplied to European end-users in near real time, i.e. less than 30 minutes after satellite overpass.

The detection and monitoring of vessels represents another near real-time satellite technology-based service offered by KSAT. Satellite radar images are used to detect the vessels, while information regarding their identity is derived by correlation with the AIS data.

Near real time information supply is a key element of these services. Integration of other types of information such as ship identification from the Automatic Identifi-cation System (AIS) is also important in order quickly to establish better maritime

situational awareness in cases of an illegal oil discharge or for the monitoring of vessels.

“Satellite technology, such as the integrated use of imagery and AIS, is currently fully operational for maritime situational aware-ness applications”, says Jan Petter Pedersen, Vice President of Kongsberg Satellite Serv-ices. “This technology can provide us with early warnings about oil spills or vessel inci-dents, helping to facilitate a rapid response and reduce the impact on the environment. Today, this technology is a cost-effective tool in enabling state authorities to moni-tor operational pollution and vessel traffic”.

Galileo activitiesKongsberg also plays an active role in the development of Galileo – the high-profile European global navigation satellite sys-tem. Galileo’s new technology is reported to be able to revolutionise our transport systems, thus increasing safety and improv-ing efficiency. This in turn will make for a better quality of life and reduce pollution in our cities. Galileo will also bring benefits in other aspects of our everyday lives, includ-ing the facilitation of precision farming to raise yields, better information for emer-gency services enabling faster response times, and more reliable and accurate time signals as a basis for our more vital compu-ter and communications networks.

Since the beginning of the Galileo pro-gramme, Kongsberg Seatex has played an important role in its development, with an emphasis on maritime applications and services needs. To date, its main activities and projects have included the MARUSE - GNSS introduction into the maritime sec-tor, MarGal (harbour docking and inland waterways), and GaleWAT, the combined Galileo and EGNOS (European Geostation-ary Navigation Overlay Service) for water-ways transport. Kongsberg Seatex is also a key player in facilitating the infrastructure elements of both EGNOS and Galileo. KSAT contributes to the Galileo ground segment by means of its facilities on Svalbard and the Troll field. *

Bård Heitm

ann

Page 29: Space energy magasin 2010

The Norwegian

Space Centre Space systems have to be failure-proof, reliable, durable

and energy efficient. That is why innovation in other fields

often is inspired by high-tech developments in space.

56 57

But a closer look reveals that techno-logy transfer between space and energy actually goes both ways. The

two fields share similar challenges due to performances under extreme conditions. The systems must be robust to tempera-ture variations and intense vibrations. Pre-cision and efficient energy supply is neces-sary. Inaccessible environments on Mars or at the bottom of the sea require remote operations. Integration of complex systems is demanding.

Centre (NSC) is a governmental administrative agency subordinate to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry. The NSC is the principal coordinator of pub-licly-funded research and development in the Norwegian space industry. Its principal aim is to further develop high-tech indus-trial ventures mainly within the framework of ESA cooperation, but also in collabora-tion with other international partners. Read more on www.spacecentre.no

The Norwegian SpaceThe Norwegian Space Centre is at ONS 2010 . . .• because we recognise that activities

within the space and energy sectors face similar challenges

• to highlight that space qualifications could be an asset in other fields

• because we want to explore new and realise ”mature synergies” between space and the energy sectors

• to tell you about Norwegian participa-tion in the European Space Agency

• to tell you about support, services and national funding provided by the Nor-wegian Space Centre as a first step in creating an expert network within the space and energy sectors that can later be widened into other fields. *

Page 30: Space energy magasin 2010

59

Oceaneering– operating in space and deep waters

In Norway, Oceaneering utilises under-water technology to perform several tasks for the oil industry on the Norwe-

gian continental shelf. These include re-mote-controlled underwater operations, drilling and production support, structural and platform inspection and maintenance and repairs.

At Oceaneering’s home base in Houston, the company is working on a number of space-related projects for NASA. This is in addition to its subsea activities that include remotely-operated vehicles, mobile off-shore production systems, specialised built-to-order subsea hardware, engineering and project management, subsea intervention and installation services, non-destructive testing and inspections, and manned div-ing operations.

Designing NASA’s New SpacesuitIn 2009 Oceaneering Space Systems (OSS) was selected by NASA to develop and pro-duce the Constellation Space Suit System (CSSS) – a new space suit designed for solar system exploration. The CSSS is a key com-ponent of the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) System for NASA’s space exploration pro-gramme. It will be used to sustain the US presence in low Earth orbit, help establish an outpost on the moon, and lay the foun-dation for further human space exploration.

“Our team is excited about this tre-mendous opportunity to assist NASA

in pushing the boundaries of space explo-ration”, says Mark Gittleman, Vice-President and General Manager of Oceaneering Space Systems.

Since 1978 OSS has developed and delivered thousands of end items to NASA and other contractors related to intra- and extra- vehicular activity (EVA, or spacewalking). It has developed advanced life support sys-tems and technologies for use in future spacesuits and spacecraft, and complete suites of tools and equipment for the

assembly, maintenance, and repair of satel-lites and other spacecraft, including the International Space Station (ISS).

Building the Next Generation of RobotsOSS is also playing a key role in the develop-ment of the next generation of robots for use in the aerospace, undersea, military and automotive industries. The Robonaut 2 is an anthropomorphic (human-like) robot de-signed to assist an astronaut during space-walks. It is faster and more dexterous than earlier models and takes robot technology

to the next level. At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the robot is now performing complex tasks that pre-viously could only be carried out by humans.

Many systems requiring serv-icing in harsh environments, such as satellites in space, off-shore oil & gas platforms, and even explosive ordnance on the battlefield, were never de-

signed to be serviced by other machines. An anthropomorphic

robot mimics human physiology, and is able to use tools designed for humans in order safely to per-form complex operations in very hazardous environments. *

Oceaneering is a global oilfield provider of engineered products and

related services, primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry, and with

a focus on deep water applications. Oceaneering also applies its expertise

in applied technology to serve the defence and aerospace industries.

58

NASA

Underwater training- astronaut

Oceaneering Inc. is a global oilfield provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry, with a focus on deepwater applications. Through the use of its applied technology expertise, Oceaneering also serves the defense and aerospace indus-tries. Oceaneering Norway is a subsea tech-nology company providing ROV Services, engineered services and products to the offshore oil and gas industry. Read more on www.oceaneering.com

Page 31: Space energy magasin 2010

It is STM Group’s R&D centre, operated by STM Norway AS, which is heading the research and development consortium

under the ESA contract. The main aim of development work is to enhance perform-ance and at the same time reduce the oper-ating costs of broadband interactive satel-lite communications systems.

STM Norway’s joint participants in this ad-vanced development consortium are Thales Alenia Space Espana, The German Aero-space Centre DLR, ENST Bretagne, Turbo-Concept and Verisat.

“We are honoured as a consortium to be se-lected by the ESA and look forward to col-laborating with our partners, all of whom are major contributors to the advancement of satellite communications research and technologies”, says Bjorn Platou, who is General Manager at STM Norway.

Offshore and maritime communica-tions systemsSTM is a global group that facilitates broad-band wireless two-way communications for remote locations, data management, and simultaneous voice and video – all based on industry-leading satellite ground station technology. The company manufac-tures equipment, develops software, per-forms integration and support, delivers turnkey systems and offers private commu-nications services on a global basis.

“We are major suppliers of offshore and maritime communications systems and services. We are exhibiting at the ONS Exhi-

bition in August in order to demonstrate to all sectors of the oil and gas and energy-re-lated industries our ability to meet their monitoring, control and general communi-cations needs”, explains Rick Forberg.

STM has developed a compact, low-cost base station system for GSM phones that integrates efficiently with their satellite ground terminals, thus enabling backhaul connectivity to any location. This is needed for ships, offshore platforms and remote land-based operations, or in any situation where workers or devices require uninter-rupted access to cellular communications. “We are continuing to expand into new markets and locations and are focusing on high performance, high availability and cost-effective communications for both the renewable and traditional energy compa-nies”, says Forberg. *

STM heads next generationopen broadband interactive satellite technology effort for the ESA

“Under contract to the European Space Agency

(ESA), we are currently heading development

of the next generation of global standards

for satellite communications based on small,

efficient satellite ground terminals. These include

mobile, transportable and fixed terminals”, says

Rick Forberg, VP of Marketing and Strategy

at STM Group.

The STM Group is a global provider of satellite and cellular wireless network systems and services for mobile and fixed IP-based telephony, data and multimedia applications. With its SatLink® product line, the company is a leader in research into and the development and manufacture of MF-TDMA, bandwidth-on-demand solutions with certified com-pliance to international standards. STM’s services include custom network design, turnkey deployments, and operations management. STM, SuperPico and SatLink are trademarks of STM. Read more on www.stmi.com

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Page 32: Space energy magasin 2010

Using ASIGNin Situational

Awareness systems

The earthquake struck at 8.15 a.m. Ryan sensed it immediately. Jumping out of bed, he grabbed his field gear and ran out of the building. The tremors told him that the installations might suffer exten-sive damage. Outside, he immediately deployed his camera and Android phone, noting that the latter had a good GPS fix. He was thankful in all the confusion for the pre-configured wireless connection linking his camera to the computer on which the ASIGN client was running, and this allowed him to start his assessment observations. Server transfer of the images was auto-matic. The BGAN satellite terminal was in his gear bag but, fortunately, the mobile net-works were still operational with suffi-cient capacity for ASIGN. Images of the damage were also transmitted to the

EMSC in Paris which would use this infor-mation during rescue planning. At 8.16 an alarm sounded at the com-mand centre. EMSC reported an earth-quake of magnitude 8.7 at a location that spelled real danger for the northern installations. John turned his attention to the continuously online ASIGN server and saw right away that Ryan was online from the site. That meant that images and other geo-referenced sensor data would soon start flowing in. Sure enough – within minutes – they did. In the mean-time John assembled the emergency team online and got to work. Meanwhile Ryan found that his truck still had the UAV microdrone he had trained with yesterday in the back. Un-packing it rapidly, he started a 30-minute GPS-programmed aerial survey with live image transfer to John via ASIGN.

Less than one hour later the situation was under control thanks to an accurate ASIGN assessment. Yes, there was struc-tural damage to one of the main pipe-lines, but the rapidly available observa-tions transmitted by Ryan had allowed them to close it off in time. Fortunately, the assessment images revealed little environmental damage. Rescue and maintenance teams were being assembled, and were receiving updated digital maps generated from the latest satellite images. They revealed that the main bridge leading to the site had collapsed and was unusable. This was confirmed by Ryan’s in-situ observations. With a sigh of relief, John waited for the aftershocks that might be in store. Although thousands of kilometres away, he knew that ASIGN could transport him to the installation in seconds if required.

The earthquake described left was fictional, but the technology is not. AnsuR Technology’s award-winning

ASIGN (Adaptive System for Image commu-nication in Global Networks) is very much a reality. It is designed to provide rapid answers to key questions that any com-mand centre must know – what has hap-pened – where and when?

Three stepsASIGN is designed around three basic steps involved in emergency/disaster manage-ment and situational awareness: Observa-tion, Decision and Action. Since disasters typically happen outside the office, wireless communication is essential. Normally, mo-bile networks are sufficient, but many areas have poor coverage. Disasters may also damage existing infrastructure and in-creased traffic loads can result in operative networks congestion.

Satellite communications thus provide es-sential back-up. Mobile satellite networks

cover virtually every part of the globe, al-though their capacity is limited and costs high. To counteract this, AnsuR have devel-oped optimised (GR4-COMS) communica-tion protocols for ASIGN.

UAVsASIGN can use remote-controlled or pro-grammed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that carry photo, video or IR cameras and communications systems such as radio, mobile or satellite for transferring “live” im-ages directly to ASIGN servers. While the simplest configuration involves a remote-controlled Android camera phone, possibly with an additional camera, the system also supports advanced camera and flight com-puters with radio downlink and ground-based satellite relay.

Basic building blockASIGN makes optimum image quality avail-able over any network faster, simpler and cheaper than other systems. Savings in bandwidth range from two to three orders

of magnitude, and yet the system supports full visual resolution and quality as required. Geo-referenced observations ensure rapid and direct integration with maps and satel-lite images in GIS. ASIGN can be utilised as a basic building block in any disaster, emer-gency and situational awareness system. *

AnsuR Technologies delivers space-age solutions for Situa-tional Awareness and Emergency and Disaster Management.

ASIGN is an example from AnsuR's award winning portfolio of wireless and inte-grated space based technologies that has given the company a leading internation-al position in it's areas of expertise. For more information, visit us online at ansur.no or come see us at IT Fornebu outside Oslo. Read more on www.ansur.no

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Page 33: Space energy magasin 2010

Taking Space & Energy to the

Next Level Any network must have an enthusiastic and energetic group of people

making things happen. The core of enthusiasts behind the Space & Energy

network are all passionate about technology and space. They want people

to think outside planet Earth and to look to the space industry for inspiration.

The Space and Energy initiative is the result of a collaboration between a group of individuals that first met at

Stavanger’s innovation centre – Ipark. Their ideas and enthusiasm encouraged Statoil and the Norwegian Space Centre to collab-orate in finding opportunities and syner-gies between the space and energy indus-tries. In June 2009 they combined with the network Arena IO to arrange the first Space and Energy conference in Stavanger. More than 70 companies and invited speakers from the ESA and NASA took part. The group is now transferring the initiative to ONS where there will be a Space and En-ergy Conference and Pavilion. The confer-ence is planned to become an annual event that will consolidate the network, inform the industry and public, and inspire the young – and the young at heart.

The core of the project team consists of Ole Jørgen Engelsvoll from ONS, Brage W. Jo-hansen from IRIS, Bjørn Ottar Elseth from the Norwegian Space Centre and Preben Strøm from Oceaneering.

“For me the space industry has always been quite romantic”, says Brage W. Johansen, who is Vice President of Strategy and Busi-ness Development at IRIS. “Like all engi-neers, I’m very excited about all the tech-nology developed within this industry. Having worked for Statoil for several years, I can see many similarities between the energy industry and the space sector”.

Bjørn Ottar Elseth is a Senior Advisor at the Norwegian Space Centre and believes that the initiative is quite special. “It’s very excit-ing to be a part of this group”, he says. “The meeting of the space and energy sectors is unique. Hopefully we will find new and exciting projects which will benefit both sectors”.

Ole Jørgen Engelsvoll is Project Manager for the ONS Space and Energy Park, and also thinks that the initiative is full of potential. “It has been great working on this project”, he says. “Everyone we meet is so excited and supportive. We already had high ambi-tions for the project, and all the positive feedback we have received has boosted these ambitions sky high. Both the energy and space industries are highly advanced

technical sectors and have much in com-mon.

Welcome to the Moon – at ONSThe Space and Energy initiative is inviting everyone to the Space and Energy Pavilion at ONS – one of the world’s most important oil and gas conferences. Jan Roger Moksnes, an Advisor at Melvær & Lien, is responsible for the Space and Energy Pavilion. He hopes that people will enjoy walking on the moon and getting to see things in a new light.

“We want people to think in a new and dif-ferent way – outside planet Earth. Stepping into the pavilion you will walk on the Moon and look up at the Earth. Hopefully this will spark people’s curiosity and encourage them to learn more about all the exciting technology that is currently being devel-oped in both the space and energy sectors.

*

64

"The parallels between subsea and spaced

based operations are remarkable. We hope

that Oceaneering through it`s unique expe-

rience can contribute in a positive manner

in the Space & Energy network. "

Preben Strøm

65

Bjørn Ottar Elseth – The Norwegian Space Centre, Ole Jørgen Engelsvoll – ONS and Brage W. Johansen – IRIS.

Page 34: Space energy magasin 2010

6766

NASA

Only one millionth of the area of the sea floor has been observed

directly by humans. If the same were true for

Earth's land mass, only 150 square kilometers –

less than a tenth of the area of metropolitan

London – would have been seen by us.

Page 35: Space energy magasin 2010

SPACE & ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Is there a technology that can solve my problem?Is there a market for my product in the space industry?

We help you navigate in the universe of companies and investors, and formulate requests and search for partners.

Learn more on www.thinkoutsidetheplanet.com > Technology Transfer

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