Article

Shipmonitoring via AIS: ESAIL successfully launched by LuxSpace


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 13 September 2020 70 -

picture and text by LuxSpace / OHB

Kourou/Betzdorf, September 3, 2020.
ESAIL, the first commercial microsatellite developed under the European Space Agency ESA’s SAT-AIS program for tracking ships, took off successfully from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on board a Vega launcher at 3.51 a.m. (CET) tonight, reaching its orbit just under two hours later. Luxembourg-based LuxSpace, a subsidiary of the space and technology group OHB SE, was responsible for the full integration of ESAIL.

The long wait for the launch

ESAIL was originally to be launched in March 2020. However, due to the corona pandemic, the French government largely shut down the spaceport in French Guyana in March. Unable to complete their work on the satellite, the LuxSpace team traveled back to Europe and had to control the launch preparations remotely from the LuxSpace headquarters in Betzdorf. Other launch dates planned for June, July and August also had to be postponed due to heavy winds. “I have rarely had to wait this long for a successful launch of an OHB satellite. This makes me all the happier that ESAIL has now finally been able to embark on its journey into space,” says LuxSpace Managing Director Jochen Harms.

ESAIL is watching you

The client exactEarth will be using ESAIL for worldwide ship monitoring. ESAIL will form part of the exactEarth satellite constellation, which will monitor ships using its automatic identification system. ESAIL has been developed in an ESA partnership programme with the support of the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) to improve the next generation of satellite-based services for the maritime sector.
Watch launch video on YouTube
Watch launch video on YouTube
Watch launch video on YouTube
Watch launch video on YouTube

About LuxSpace:

LuxSpace was created in November 2004 as a daughter company of OHB SE and is located in the SES Business Center at Betzdorf in Luxembourg. Belonging to the international network of companies within the OHB group, LuxSpace provides know-how, expertise as well as products and services to the European and global institutional and industrial market in the fields of space and defence system engineering and application development.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video LuxSpace ESAIL Packaging and Shipment

published on 16 September 2020

Discover the final hours of packaging and preparations of the ESAIL satellite before it left Luxembourg. The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships at sea has completed its latest environmental and system performance tests and set off for Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. On 17 February the satellite left Luxembourg, where it was built by LuxSpace under an ESA Partnership Project with the Canadian operator exactEarth, sponsored by the Luxembourg Space Agency and other ESA member...

0

Video ESAIL Maritime Satellite Launched

published on 16 September 2020

The #ESAIL #microsatellite for tracking ships worldwide was launched. This is the first maritime satellite of its kind produced and assembled in Luxembourg. Hear from #Luxembourg Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot about this pioneering #ESA partnership project developed with #LuxSpace and #Exactearth.

0

Video Luxembourg Space Expertise: LuxSpace / ESAIL

published on 16 September 2020

LuxSpace CEO, Jochen Harms, on putting the ESAIL microsatellite into orbit.
ESAIL is part of ESA’s Partnership Projects and has been developed to enhance the next generation of space‐based services for the maritime sector. The spacecraft will track ship movements over the entire globe as it orbits the planet.

0

Article PTR Holland offers free pilot ladder load test

published on 1 December 2021

Register your pilot or embarkation ladder today and receive a free 30 months mandatory load test, when the ladders been delivered to one of our factories in Rotterdam, Singapore, New Castle UK or Houston Texas.

0

Article New protocols to mitigate COVID-19 cases onboard

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 8 September 2020

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Maritime Health Association (IMHA) and the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) issued new protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 cases on board.

0

Video Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #4-Ningbo-navigating

published on 10 June 2020

View from the Bridge as the pilot navigates our 24,000 TEU vessel through the busy shipping channel safely to its berth. HMM thanks all the Pilots, Tug-Masters and Berthing Gangs for their important role in the safe passage of our fleet.

0

Article The Master, Mate & Pilot Magazine - Spring 2022 Edition - is online

published on 12 April 2022

The Spring 2022 edition of our magazine The Master, Mate & Pilot is available online.

0

Article Midwest Port Pilots ISPO certified

by ISPO - International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organisations - published on 30 August 2022

The International Users Group of ISPO-certified pilot organizations (IUG) congratulates Midwest Port Pilots on gaining its ISPO accreditation.

1

Article Danish Butter Cookies...

by Marine Pilot Luis Vale, Portugal - published on 17 July 2019

Why “Danish Butter Cookies” are a part of the standard navigational equipment…

0

Video PNG Ports Corporation christians Siabo Pilot Boat

published on 28 April 2021

PNG Ports Corporation has christianed the Siabo, the first in a series of five pilot boats, each worth seven million Kina. The pilot boats are part of PNG Ports’ re-fleeting plan to satisfy the demands of its clients, to meet international standards. State Enterprises Minister, William Duma commended PNG Ports for its consistency in producing outstanding results. #pngnews #looppng #tvwannews LATEST NEWS: http://www.looppng.com/ SUBSCRIBE to Loop PNG on YouTube: https://bit.ly/LoopPNG-YT...

0