A satellite that is being lauded as the most advanced and accurate Automatic Identification System (AIS) satellite ever built was successfully launched into orbit in July 2012, and is expected to lead to significant advances in monitoring maritime traffic.
The exactView-1 satellite was released into an orbit that is synchronous with the earth’s orbit around the sun on July 22, 2012. The technology firm that designed and built the satellite and spacecraft, UK based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), has confirmed that since its launch, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the satellite has been functioning well.
The exact-View 1 weights a mere 100kg, and was carried into orbit on a Soyuz rocket where it was launched at a height of 800km. The satellite is designed to provide comprehensive real time AIS data on maritime traffic, monitoring the speed, location and projected routes of marine vessels throughout the world.
According to its designers, the exactView-1 probe is equipped with deployable solar panels to power its AIS receivers and send information back to the mission station in Guildford, England. SSTL specializes in designing, constructing and operating relatively low cost satellites and ground based systems.
The launch took place in collaboration with Commercial Space Technologies, based in Russia, which has the world’s biggest space program second to the US. The exactView-1 is the 37th satellite designed by SSTL to be launched successfully. Following the launch, SSTL has commissioned a number of additional communication technologies, control systems and power stations at its ground station in Guildford.
The data extracted from the satellite will be analyzed by exactEarth, an Ontario-based data services company that provides information about maritime traffic worldwide, using microsatellite technology to monitor ships in all the world’s oceans.
AIS technology is currently used on more than 80 000 maritime vessels, however previous satellites only allowed ships to be tracked to a maximum of 50 miles off the coast. The new satellite technology will use high quality communication bands to frequently download information to ground stations, and will be able to monitor ships more than 100 miles from the coast. This added functionality will increase the safety of marine travel and commercial endeavors, will help rescuers to find stranded vessels and will allow ships to follow the most efficient and safe routes while at sea.
Although, as this satellite launch shows, progress is certainly being made in maritime safety technologies, there is still a long way to go until sailors are able to enjoy a safe working environment.
