Telespazio's UK Mobile Satellite Services business sponsors Arctic Expedition

8 August 2011 – Telespazio’s Mobile Satellite Services business in the UK is co-sponsoring a two-man team of Danish explorers – ‘Minus Zero/No Limits’ – who are travelling 600km along the Northwest Passage, the northern most part of Canada, in a kayak.

The expedition’s objective is to map historic Inuit sites and shipwrecks, where famous Arctic explorers first made contact with the Netsilik and Copper Inuits over a century ago.

For the explorers – Mogens A Morgen and Tonni Frandsen – robust communications equipment is essential. The Telespazio Mobile Satellite Services team in the UK is therefore providing the explorers with Iridium Airtime, allowing them to call ‘MayDay’, or contact their base, family and friends, at any time. Danimex, one of Telespazio’s service providers, has provided an Iridium satellite phone with a solar charger and extra battery.

During the expedition, the explorers will search for ancient Inuit settlements and record their structure and condition. They also plan to locate the remains of Polar explorer Roald Amundsen’s old ship 'Maud', which was lost as Amundsen sailed the Northeast Passage in an early attempt to reach the North Pole in the 1920s – one of several historic expeditions that took place in the early 20^th century.

The estimated three-week journey began in late July in Cambridge Bay, and will take the team all the way westward to Kugluktut. During their expedition, the explorers will cross packed ice, rocks, tundra and wilderness, and can expect to face Polar bears, brown bears, wolves, musk ox and reindeer. They also hope to observe seals, walruses, whales and fish, since they plan to eat only what they can hunt and catch.

There is no doubt that this will be an extraordinary adventure. When safely home, all finds and experiences will be analysed, edited and shared with fellow scientists, as well as the general public.

Telespazio's Andrew Taylor, said: "This expedition presents an incredible challenge for Mogens A Morgen and Tonni Frandsen, in their efforts to build upon findings of historic explorers. The Telespazio Mobile Satellite Services team is delighted to be playing a part in this unique journey by providing vital communications for the team, and will be following their progress throughout."

Further information
For further information about the expedition, please visit the Danimex website.
For further information about Telespazio MSS, please contact Karen Rogers.