ESA - ESA Spacecraft Operations - Atlantis leaves Columbus with a radio eye on Earth’s sea traffic

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Atlantis leaves Columbus with a radio eye on Earth’s sea traffic

4 December 2009

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Astronaut Randolph Bresnik seen during Atlantis EVA-2 on 21 November 2009 with the unfurled AIS antenna, attached to Columbus to be used for experimental tracking of VHF signals of ships at sea.

Credits: NASA

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The AIS antenna - designed by the ARISS organisation in conjunction with ESA - has been fitted to the outside of the Columbus module for an experiment in detecting Automatic Ship Identification signals from orbit.

Challenge of orbital AIS detection

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AIS transponders are mandatory for all international ships over 300 tonnes, cargo vessels over 500 tonnes and all types of passenger carriers.

Experiment employing new computer technology

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The ERNObox has been designed for operation in the Columbus module of the ISS. Built by Astrium Space Transportation in Bremen, Germany, it is a prototype computer based around a new generation of ESA-developed processor chips, its name coming from the German for ‘modular computer in low Earth orbit’.

The ISS focus on Earth observation

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AIS and ARISS antennas being fitted to Columbus during STS-129's EVA-2 on 21 November. The antennas were attached to an Astrium-designed GATOR assembly fitted to a handrail.

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