Europe Expands Arctic Spaceports to Boost Launch Independence

European countries are developing new spaceports in Arctic and northern regions to strengthen their capacity for orbital launches and reduce reliance on overseas facilities.

Esrange Space Center in Sweden, located north of the Arctic Circle, was inaugurated as Europe’s first mainland orbital launch site in January 2023. The site has supported sounding rockets and high-altitude balloons since the 1960s and is being upgraded for orbital launches, including future missions by Firefly Aerospace and Perigee Aerospace.

Norway’s Andøya Spaceport, officially opened in November 2023, is described as Europe’s first operational spaceport on continental Europe. In March 2025, Isar Aerospace used Andøya for a test flight of its Spectrum orbital launch vehicle, which was terminated after about 30 seconds, resulting in a controlled crash into the sea.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority granted a vertical launch licence to Rocket Factory Augsburg for SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands in January 2025. This licence allows up to 30 launches per year, and SaxaVord plans its first orbital launch in 2026.

What the numbers show

• 324 orbital launches occurred worldwide in 2025
• The US accounted for 193 launches, China for 93, and European operators for eight
• SaxaVord Spaceport is licensed for up to 30 launches annually

Historically, Europe has relied on the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana for its orbital launches. The establishment of these Arctic and northern European facilities is intended to provide greater autonomy for European space activities.

Esrange is preparing for its first orbital launch with Perigee Aerospace’s Blue Whale 1 micro-launcher, planned for late 2025. Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket is also expected to launch from Esrange in 2026, following ongoing upgrades at the site.

The high-latitude locations of Esrange, Andøya, and SaxaVord offer strategic advantages for missions requiring polar and sun-synchronous orbits. These sites are situated in sparsely populated areas, which is beneficial for safety and operational considerations.

These developments reflect a broader effort to expand Europe’s space launch infrastructure and increase the region’s participation in the global space sector. The new facilities are positioned to support a range of commercial and research missions in the coming years.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.