FROM GERMANY TO AWARUA: A COLLABORATIVE CUBESAT MISSION FOR RESPONSIVE SPACE MARITIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

Kurzfassung

The concept of responsive space has become central to the pursuit of resilience, agility and operational continuity in satellite missions. Conventional development cycles are often too lengthy to meet the demand for rapid deployment and the provision of near-real-time data. Due to their short development timelines, low cost and flexibility, CubeSats provide an effective platform on which to test novel operational concepts. Within this framework, Germany’s first dedicated mission to maritime situational awareness, the Optical Traffic Tracking Experiment for Responsive Space (OTTER) CubeSat, has been developed. The mission incorporates a global ground station network to ensure frequent access to the spacecraft, rapid data transmission, and reliable control throughout all operational phases. Key stations include KSAT's Svalbard facility in Norway, the DLR ground station in Trauen and the FH Aachen Space Operations Facility (FHASOF). A critical component of this network is the Awarua ground station in New Zealand, which is operated by Space Operations New Zealand (SpaceOps NZ). SpaceOps NZ is a specialised provider of satellite ground segment services, managing antenna hosting, leasing and operations for a wide range of LEO and deep space missions. The Awarua station benefits from southern latitude, low radio interference, wide sky visibility and access to polar orbits, making it particularly well-suited to missions such as OTTER. For this project, the Awarua station provides S-band high-rate links for payload data downlink and UHF capabilities for telemetry and telecommand. These UHF links are particularly valuable given the scarcity of global UHF providers, as they act as a lifeline during commissioning and contingency operations. Integrating Awarua into the OTTER network directly supports the mission's responsive space goals. It enhances contact opportunities in the southern hemisphere, ensures redundancy during critical phases and reduces the time taken for data to be delivered after it has been acquired. For maritime situational awareness, where the near-real-time detection and verification of vessel activity is paramount, this capability provides clear operational advantages. By partnering with SpaceOps NZ, OTTER benefits from increased ground coverage and the expertise of a dedicated ground service provider that shares the mission’s emphasis on responsiveness and reliability. This paper presents OTTER as a collaborative technology demonstrator for maritime situational awareness. It emphasises the integration of industrial, academic and institutional stakeholders in mission development and operations, while highlighting the strategic role of an international ground segment anchored by SpaceOps New Zealand. Through this collaborative model, OTTER serves as a testbed for future missions combining responsive space principles with operational value in maritime monitoring.