A real-time Earth (RTE) ground station has been launched near Accra, Ghana.

The facility – the result of a collaboration between global communications company Viasat and the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute – is located at the country’s Radio Astronomy Observatory in Kuntunse and expected to deliver critical Earth observation and remote sensing data on-demand, in addition to new space opportunities and jobs to the region.

According to Viasat, the RTE has ‘capabilities in support of environmental, insurance, shipping, energy and government operations. It is a fully managed, affordable ground network that supports next-generation and legacy geosynchronous equatorial orbit, medium Earth orbit and low Earth orbit satellites using the S-, X-, and Ka-bands, enabling operators to meet current and future data requirements’.

In so doing, it will provide global satellite operators with the ability to perform telemetry, tracking and command capabilities as well as rapidly download, stream and/or disseminate valuable satellite-based data in a timely and secure manner.

16 November 2021
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