The RV Polarstern is one of the most advanced polar research ships in the world. It’s operated by Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute, which has been conducting research in the Arctic and Antarctic for more than 40 years. The ship’s double-walled steel hull and 20,000-horsepower engines enable the Polarstern to break through heavy ice – a capability that was vital when spending a full season purposely trapped in Arctic ice to conduct research at the epicenter of climate change.
Reliable, high-bandwidth satellite connectivity is essential to the ship’s work. Researchers study the atmosphere, ocean, sea ice and ecosystem, and a leading-edge onboard computer system regularly records, saves, and transmits the data they capture. The ship also relies on an advanced charting system that imports satellite and other data from outside sources and processes it onboard to find the optimal path through sea ice, identify floes for experiments and help recover sensors. During long voyages, connectivity is also essential to the welfare of all onboard and protects their health and safety at sea.
Scientist carrying equipment on ice in front of RV Polarstern during the MOSAiC expedition. Photo Credit: Janek Uin
Blending Technologies to Gain Insights into the Future
Behind the scenes, Speedcast has been hard at work deploying a hybrid connectivity solution aboard the RV Polarstern, which includes the latest LEO technology from LEO fleet operator, OneWeb, with the power of AWS-hosted Speedcast SIGMA network management platform. By integrating these technologies, the RV Polarstern has unlocked a new realm of data gathering capabilities, helping researchers understand and better predict climate change.
The RV Polarstern typically operates 317 days of the year, covering 50,000 nautical miles, and carries one hundred researchers, technicians, and crew. Though the ship is capable of smashing through sea ice up to five feet thick, internet connectivity has been a challenge for the vessel. The polar regions are the hardest places on Earth to serve from traditional GEO satellites in orbit over the equator. The farther north the vessel sails, the closer to the horizon the satellite antennas must point to reach GEO, and the more vulnerable they become to interference and signal loss, especially in challenging low look angle locations. But LEO constellations circle the globe in a complex daisy chain that covers most of the planet. (See this animation from OneWeb.) So, customers venturing into polar regions have been the first to line up for service.
Understanding the challenges, Speedcast designed and deployed a hybrid connectivity solution that blends OneWeb LEO services with additional LEO-based and L-band services aboard the RV Polarstern. OneWeb’s SLA-based, low latency broadband connectivity provides researchers and crew members with committed information rates (CIR) in the most isolated areas of the world. Its guaranteed service means defined capacity, performance, uptime and – most importantly – a lifeline, for Polarstern’s passengers in the polar regions. Integrated via our SIGMA network management platform, Polarstern’s seamless connectivity comes complete with satellite aware, enterprise grade SD-WAN and traffic prioritization to maintain optimal performance levels.
Running Speedcast SIGMA on the robust AWS Cloud infrastructure has unlocked a multitude of benefits for the RV Polarstern’s research expedition. Regardless of the vessel’s remote location in the Arctic, AWS’s scalability, reliability, and global reach have ensured uninterrupted access to critical resources and services. The integration of AWS Cloud with the Speedcast SIGMA platform has significantly enhanced the vessel’s network performance, guaranteeing optimized data transmission, reduced latency, and overall improved connectivity. This comprehensive solution incorporates satellite-aware, enterprise-grade SD-WAN capabilities, enabling efficient traffic prioritization, intelligent routing, and optimal bandwidth utilization. As a result, application performance is enhanced, enabling seamless collaboration among researchers and seamless access to cloud-based resources. Ultimately, these advancements accelerate scientific discoveries and deepen our understanding of the Arctic climate system.
While the Polarstern leads the way in ice breaking, Speedcast is breaking digital barriers for customers where and when it matters most, making 100% uptime a reality to ensure a safe journey and enable critical climate research. Follow Polarstern’s expedition live here or discover how you can expand your reach with hybrid connectivity options from Speedcast.