Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)
Overview
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) was founded in 1972, the same year they took owenership of Esrange Space Center. Within two years they launched their first high altitude balloon. By 2000, SSC acquired USN (Universal Space Network) in the US and started to establish a global ground station network. [1] SSC know offers three distinct services: Science & Launch, Satellite Ground Network, and Spacecraft Operations & Engineering. [2]
Collarboration with AirbusDS.nl
On 21 January 2021, Swedish Space Corporation and Airbus Defense and Space Netherlands (AirbusDS.nl) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaborative activities regarding ground equipment for space-to-ground optical communication. AirbusDS.nl will accelerate their development of optical ground stations which will be used by SSC in delivering ground network services.
One of the collaborative activities in developing this capability includes optical communication tests against the CubeLCT optical terminal on the Photo Images Cross Laser (PIXL-1) Mission, organized in close co-operation with project partner TESAT. PIXL-1 will be launched on the 22nd of January. [3]
Related Links
MIT Paper: Optimal Location of Optical Ground Stations to Serve LEO Spacecraft