The Geodetic Earth Observatory in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, has been operational since 1994. The observatory is part of a global network that's crucial for satellite observations and navigations, for measuring changes and motion of the Earth and to make the basis for monitoring climate changes like changes in sea-level.
Ny-Ålesund is situated at 79 degrees north. Geodetic observations at this location are of high scientific value. As the northernmost observatory in the world, it enhances the level of precision both in the Arctic and for integrated global solutions.
In December 2012, the Norwegian government decided that The Norwegian Mapping Authority is going to build a New Geodetic Earth Observatory in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard.
The goal for the new observatory is to contribute to the goal of the IAG project GGOS: to establish a reference frame that is good enough to meet the needs for more precise measurements of small changes as in sea-level. The aim for the international reference frame is to be accurate at a level of 1 mm.
To reach this goal there has to be built a network of core stations, evenly distributed around the world. Ny-Ålesund will be the northern most station in this network. All the stations have to include all the geodetic space techniques; VLBI, SLR, GNSS and Doris, and absolute and superconducting gravimeters.
Regarding VLBI at the new observatory, NMA will include a radio telescope system consisting of 2 identical radio telescopes — Twin Telescopes Ny-Ålesund. Both radio telescopes will be dedicated to the observation programs of the IVS, and will replace the existing 20m radio telescope in Ny-Ålesund. These telescopes requires the purchase of 1 Cooling System for each antenna.
The VGOS (VLBI2010) Telescopes will be installed at site during summer 2016. The observatory is planned to be in test mode in 2017. The old and new antennas will be operated simultaneously for a period to maintain time series.