norwegian satellite ground station located nearby norway initial ground stations serving generation satellites station provided radio tracking commanding services data download owned facilities constructed operated plans station construction started early 1960s negotiations norwegian authorities started despite norway lack membership initial disagreement locate facility overcome agreement signed december followed numerous protests soviet_union claimed installation violate zone clause treaty station potential military satellites intelligence protests rejected norwegian authorities construction started soviet_union attempted resulted crash soviet helicopter operations commenced facility closed facility suitable new satellites higher history background official inquiries establishing research taken head october similar facilities completed construction initiated proposal regarded primarily military project initially issued united_states considered saw possible excuse counter measure soviet mining communities came plans international year research station established moved unrelated station initiation technology services norway entered cooperation united_states resulted construction established western european reaction rapidly developing soviet american space programs norway chose join observer partially close cooperation partially cost norwegian space research scientists participated programs preliminary work planning operations concluded network initially consist radio tracking stations optical tracking stations addition tracking stations built alaska belgium france actively opposed location norway member wanted location decision necessary operation launch satellites initial proposal called locating station advantage january started informal discussions stated initial objections supported store instead proposed station remote lower costs opposed norwegian authorities mining ceased kings bay affair authorities wanted permanent activity town official request february official political support project awarded main motivation establish permanent space technology center norway stimulate scientific growth soviet protests treaty establishes free economic zone zone allowing soviet presence norway installing military fortifications soviet_union objected creation program threatened establish counter station basis ground station seen having military potential members members nato norway lacked sufficient control military activities place station norwegian authorities responded installation scientific peaceful activities norwegian control treaty prohibited fortifications military activity norway held right conduct military scientific research operate intelligence operations archipelago minimize soviet opposition norway attempted debate political specialist scene time establishing protocol norwegian control operation facility achieve norwegian authorities worked establishing inspection procedure facilities remained solely peaceful activities particularly focus regular inspection auxiliary equipment issue government appointed semi independent operator facility oral soviet embassy norwegian government took place november internal evaluation stated long regular carried little chance military use installations particular limited technical equipment installed held different opinion stated right equipment installed ground station listen information soviet satellites area require competent inspector find equipment allowing soviet access station discussed politically quickly discarded establish unwanted precedent undermine norwegian sovereignty archipelago discussions norwegian authorities continued pressing quick decision norway negotiations carried allow time develop solid counter policy soviet_union gain support installation located outside hand threatened instead build installation northern sweden northern canada abandon plans agreement reached norwegian authorities december established location norway party agreement allowed station located exchange norwegian authorities building operating facility accepted wanted receive guarantee norwegian authorities minimize soviet criticism ministry interested giving direct guarantees asked solely negotiate official soviet protest issued february letter norwegian government specifically stated norway violating article treaty installation intelligence assessment norway consulted soviet_union making decision issue discussed days later minister justice acting minister foreign affairs regarded protest moderate fell series soviet protests activity remotely considered potential cover military activity official response sent march rejected soviet objections stated norwegian authorities agreements norway sufficient article followed pointed open civil nature rejected soviet claims right consulted advance norwegian prime minister visited soviet_union soviet premier warned installation stated soviet_union build counter station june came inspection installation july soviet helicopter crashed construction site having presumably unintentionally touched mast soviet demands permanent soviet facility rejected treaty include procedure signatories right conduct station opened soviet protests persisted issue raised official visits soviet_union norwegian politicians visited attempted installation august norway soviet_union agreed time day soviet inspection station protest installation april construction operation agreement approved july final contract signed august included clauses secured non members access use station sufficient capacity norwegian authorities granted necessary information installation use approve auxiliary installations establishment brought organizational change previously conducted space research operations installations placed branch military structure organize operative branch ground station responsibility operating telecommunications facilities awarded ground station needed computer offered deliver alternative purchase computer responsible country technological development chose award contract condition pay able deliver computer construction started planned use mining company facilities allowed use buildings needed free exchange maintained entire village paid insurance buildings property bought moderate price build new buildings addition utilities power cables water sewer heating pipes new pipes installed previous pipes installed subject frost burst instead building pipes instead placed wooded boxes ground summer people working construction fell winter following winter people allow ease access case hoc airport built originally airport simply section road settlement meters long meters wide gravel bound waste oil gates end allow traffic operate usual use small bypass road built royal decree october established oslo based chief inspector inspect facility year local inspector inspect facility week assistant director radio technology appointed chief inspector manager coast radio station appointed assistant inspector ground station auxiliary facilities ready operation history station managers initial program initiated agency moved satellites higher escape facilities unsuitable satellites operate different frequency size antenna dish small ground station geographical position range change focus need station disappeared termination initial program facility closed closing mines mining company working establish research town station acted important stepping stone research activity plans development permanent research community continued past opened stations facilities ground station located known hill kilometers west settlement far end airport consisted square meter story operations center largest antenna sending diameter meter receiving antenna diameter meters placed meter tonnes long tons short tons concrete foundation surrounded plastic automated ensure aimed satellite use receiving antenna download information satellites condition surroundings data download stored magnetic tape satellites orders constituted initial ground stations provided radio tracking communication low earth orbit satellites ground station communicated satellites band optimal low orbit satellites allowed small antenna dish gave low bit rate satellites facility conducted measurements solar radiation cosmic radiation polar dynamic effects electric currents magnetic disturbances facility computer built allowed real time operations data telecommunications systems operated established way radio station communication satellites relayed radio ski onwards leased line germany return information relayed radio station magnetic tapes sent week aircraft onwards germany hired nurse refitted clinic duration station operation
Kongsfjord Telemetry Station