Nordic spaceports race for first launch
Two small spaceports in northern Sweden and Norway are competing to become the first to launch satellites from mainland Europe, aiming to reduce reliance on U.S. space capabilities. This push for independence has been fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" policies and the ongoing war in Ukraine, prompting Europe to enhance its capabilities in defense and space operations.
Despite this ambition, Europe faces significant challenges. In 2024, the U.S. conducted 154 launches into orbit, while Europe managed only three. An EU study revealed that Europe accounted for just 10% of the $143 billion in global public investment in space ventures last year. Currently, Europe’s only operational orbital launch site is in French Guiana, South America, where the Ariane 6 rocket was successfully launched earlier this year. However, Ariane 6 is not reusable, has a higher cost per launch, and is insufficient to meet Europe’s growing commercial and military needs.
The emerging Nordic spaceports are positioned to address these gaps. The Esrange Space Centre, located 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle near the borders of Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Russia, offers 5,200 square kilometers of uninhabited land, making it unique in Europe. Its proximity to Kiruna, home to a major underground iron ore mine, provides easy access to transportation infrastructure. Meanwhile, Andoya Spaceport, located on an island in northern Norway and majority-owned by the Norwegian state, has already conducted a successful test launch of a small rocket capable of carrying a payload of around 1,000 kilograms. Andoya has a license for 30 launches per year, while Esrange is also expected to play a crucial role in providing rapid launch capacity for NATO.
