Previously only institutional bodies such as ESA, NASA, US DoD, ISRO and JAXA held experience in western countries, and as a result National Space Agencies typically need to outsource specific technical and regulatory support to qualified and experienced technical specialists as they develop in order to conform with international Space regulatory practices.
Solution
In 2020, Nova Systems successfully won a contract to provide support (Rocket Launch Risk Assessment) to the Norwegian Space Agency (NSA), utilising our long history of providing sub-orbital and hypersonic launch range safety functions for the Australian Defence Weapons Range at Woomera; our experience gained by involvement in HyShot, HyCAUSE, and HIFiRE space programs, and our longstanding and firmly established Advisory and Operational Test and Evaluation relationships with Norwegian Civil and Military organisations. A further contract was won with the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who took over the responsibility from the Norwegian Space Agency for setting up a rocket launch regulatory framework and Nova Systems will provide significant support through to late 2025.
Outcome
Nova has leaned on unique cross-business experience to educate the newly established NCAA space team, along with other important stakeholders (NSA, Andøya Spaceport, Commercial rocket launch providers) on how to set up a regulatory framework for the issuing of rocket launch licenses. This ensures the safety of multiple future launches remains within the permitted risk criteria, and that the necessary regulatory framework is in place to ensure that the first rocket launches can proceed as planned. Utilising the skills and abilities across the Nova Group by managing the project from within Norway and using SME space expertise from Australia and New Zealand, the customer is being provided with the support necessary for them to meet their operational deadlines and commercial obligations.