Space Systems Finland (SSF) is a Finnish software and systems engineering company. Since its founding in 1989, the company has developed software and systems for several European Space Agency spacecraft.[2]

Space Systems Finland Oy
Company typeOsakeyhtiö
Industrysoftware, systems
Founded1989
HeadquartersEspoo, Finland
Key people
Veera Sylvius (CEO)
Revenue7.1 M€ (2017)[1]
Number of employees
63 (2017)[1]
Websitessf.fi

SSF develops software and systems for customers in aerospace, defense, medical, machinery, and nuclear industries. Approximately half of the company's revenue come from space projects, and the remaining half from terrestrial projects.[3] Since 2016, the company has expanded into internet of things development and data science.[4]

History

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SSF was founded in 1989 to develop software for Finnish space projects ongoing at that time. Initially, the company also manufactured electronics for space use, but later focused on developing space software. In 1998, SSF was mentioned as the only Finnish company focusing in space technology.[5]

In addition to space software, the company has implemented safety-critical software for other domains such as heavy machinery, medical technology, and nuclear industry.[4] SSF has also developed navigation technologies related to Galileo and signal simulators for testing GNSS receivers.[6]

Projects

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Flight and ground software for the GOMOS instrument of Envisat, launched in 2002, was developed by SSF.[7]

SSF has developed pseudolite-based navigation technologies for areas where GNSS signals are weak or not available.[8]

From 2003 to 2008, SSF developed main flight software for the Herschel and Planck space telescopes, both launched in 2009. The software was responsible for controlling and monitoring most spacecraft functions, including e.g. fault detection and correction, thermal control, and resource management.[9]

The company developed main flight software for the GOCE spacecraft, operated from 2009 to 2013, and helped solve a major communications malfunction in the satellite in July 2010.[10]

SSF has developed flight and ground software for the European MetOp weather satellite programmes.[11] SSF has also supported the development of the Aalto-1 nanosatellite.[12]

Recovery software for the Rosalind Franklin rover, to be launched in the mid- or late 2020s, has been developed by SSF. The software can be used to analyze the rover state and relay updates to the main rover software.[13]

In early 2018, SSF was selected to develop the main software for the PLATO space telescope.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kauppalehti. "Space Systems Finland Oy - Y-tunnus 0730270-6 - Yritystiedot, Taloustiedot". Tärkeimmät talousuutiset - Kauppalehti.
  2. ^ "Avaruusyhtiö jalat tukevasti maassa". Space Finland. 27 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Space Systems Finland tuo avaruusosaamista maan päälle". Helsingin Sanomat. 5 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Vuonna 1989 perustettu it-talo alkoi yhtäkkiä kasvaa vauhdilla". Tivi. 14 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Space Systems Finland tulee avaruudesta kohti maata". Tekniikka & Talous. 26 March 1998.
  6. ^ "Space Systems Finland kasvaa uusiin sfääreihin". Tivi. 15 June 2007.
  7. ^ "Sodankylän GOMOS-keskus aloittaa toimintansa". European Space Agency. 17 May 2002.
  8. ^ "NAVIndoor 2". European Space Agency. 8 February 2006.
  9. ^ "Herschel - maailman suurin avaruusteleskooppi". European Space Agency. 27 April 2009.
  10. ^ "GOCE toimii taas". European Space Agency. 7 September 2010.
  11. ^ "Finns developing EUR 1.3 billion weather satellite programme". goodnewsfinland.fi. 18 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Aalto-1 satellite is ready for space - Aalto University". Aalto University. 2 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Euroopan ensimmäinen marskulkija saa sisuksiinsa suomalaisohjelmistoa". Tähdet ja avaruus. 19 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Merkittävä avaruustilaus Suomeen: Suomalainen avaruusyhtiö sai vastuulleen eksoplaneettoja tutkivan satelliitin päätietokoneen ohjelmistot". Kauppalehti. 2 May 2018.