Awarua Tracking Station
The site on Awarua Plains was chosen because of its relatively high latitude, low elevation mask and isolation from sources of radio interference. It has a fibre-optic broadband links to the Internet.
The station was first used in 2008 to track Jules Verne, and subsequently four more Automated Transfer Vehicles servicing the International Space Station.
The station now provides telecommunications to commercial and space agency spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) with its own antennas and hosted antennas.
46°30′47″S 168°22′30″E / 46.513°S 168.375°E
Work with Planet Labs
In 2014 the Awarua Satellite Ground Station was chosen by Planet Labs to download their first earth observation satellites, in their Flock-1 constellation. Planet Lab's antenna was the first commercial antenna hosted at the station.
References
- ^ NZ space link seen as a showcase for satellite imaging Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine by NZPA, retrieved from Yahoo News website on 2011-02-15
- ^ One giant step into space for Southland on Stuff.co.nz website, retrieved 2011-04-11