Finnish NewSpace company NorthBase and ATLAS Space Operations®, headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan have joined forces in utilizing Finland as a prime location for satellite ground station services by adding the NorthBase Muonio site to the Freedom® network created by ATLAS. The station offers services on S and X bands at 68 degrees northern latitude, which in the Freedom network is second only to the Utqiagvik station at 71 degrees north in Alaska.
“We are looking forward to great co-operation with Atlas Space Operations. Their network covers the whole world and the way they have tied the network together with Freedom software is admirable. At the same time we know that Finland and NorthBase bring new opportunities to the clients of Freedom as there is room for lots of visibility and capacity available in Finnish Lapland”, says NorthBase chairman Dr. Tommi Rasila.
The Safran Legion 400 antenna provided by NorthBase is outfitted with ATLAS baseband equipment and the Freedom Software. This enables ATLAS the capability of an additional 3.9 meter S/X band antenna in a prime location in a secure NATO country in Northern Europe. This location strategically complements ATLAS’ other high latitude enterprise site in Utqiagvik, Alaska, allowing greater, more persistent coverage for the mutual customers.
“Partnering with NorthBase to add this new 3.9 meter S/X band antenna in Muonio, Finland, is a significant enhancement to the ATLAS Enterprise Network,” says Corey Geer, CEO of ATLAS Space Operations. “This strategic location leverages NorthBase’s experience to expand global antenna access to the European market. It’s a win-win, allowing NorthBase Oy to utilize our Freedom software for their customers’ satellite communication while solidifying ATLAS’s position as a leading Ground Station as a Service provider.”