Ny-Ålesund Site News
Ny-Ålesund SGSLR dome hydraulic pump successfully replaced
Sep 14, 2022
The Ny-Ålesund SGSLR dome hydraulic pump was successfully replaced in August 2022 by Baader Planetarium as warranty work. The original pump was replaced with one that has a larger motor and does not require a heating element. Continued testing post-installation indicates that this replacement pump is working well.
The Space Geodesy Project completes the installation of the dome, riser, and optical bench support structure for the new NASA Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR) station at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
May 18, 2022
The Space Geodesy Project completed the installation of the dome, riser, and optical bench support structure for the new NASA Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR) station at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The installation was performed by members of the SGSLR KBR team and the dome manufacturer Baader Planetarium, along with support from the Norwegian Mapping Authority and King's Bay AS. The Norwegian Mapping Authority hosted a Geodesy Event at Ny-Ålesund for Norwegian and United Nations dignitaries to celebrate this milestone. Dr. Karen St. Germain (NASA Earth Science Division Director) gave a public lecture on "The critical role that geodesy and the global observatories play in Earth observation" at the event and Stephen Merkowitz (Space Geodesy Project Manager) served on a discussion panel. The Norwegians also produced a short video for the event: Geodesy at the top of the world.
Dr. Karen St. Germain controlled the new SGSLR dome at the Geodesy Event in Ny-Ålesund.
Ny-Ålesund SGSLR dome passes Factory Acceptance Testing
July 2, 2020
SGSLR's third dome, built for Ny-Ålesund, Norway, successfully passed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) at Baader Planetarium in Mammendorf Germany on 2 July 2020. Jan McGarry (NASA) and KBR team members, including Scott Wetzel and Howard Donovan, attended the FAT virtually. KBR approved the FAT and accepted the dome. Installation of the dome at Ny-Ålesund is expected to occur in September 2020.
The Ny-Ålesund SGSLR dome on the Baader factory floor as seen by NASA and KBR personnel during the virtual Factory Acceptance Test.
