Arctic Sweden enters race for Europe’s satellite launch launches

A research rocket takes off from one the world’s northernmost satellite centers, with its burner glowing in the darkened Arctic forests of Sweden as the temperature drops below minus 20 Celsius.

There are high hopes that this rocket could launch a satellite in this year’s first European satellite launch from a continental Europe spaceport.

About an hour away is Kiruna, the mining town. At the launch pad there are no people. In summer, there may be a few reindeer.

These vast, deserted forests are why the Swedish space center is located here at the foot Radar Hill, 200 km (124 miles) above Arctic Circle.

Mattias Abrahamsson from the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), explains to AFP, “In this region we have 5,200 kilometres (2.007 miles) where nobody lives. So we can easily launch a missile that flies into these areas and falls down without anybody getting hurt.”

The European Space Agency (ESA), which was established in 1966 in order to study the atmosphere, and the Northern Lights phenomena, has made significant investments in the Esrange space center in order to be able send satellites into orbit.

Thursday’s ceremony will see the official opening of three new launch pad sites by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission.

Philip Pahlsson pulls up a heavy blue door at a large new hangar that can hold two 30-metre rockets.

The new launch pads can still be seen from the distance, even in the early afternoon glow.

Pahlsson explains that satellite launches will be starting from here next a year.

“This is a major step, the most significant since the inception Esrange.”

More than 600 suborbital rockets have already been launched from this remote corner of Sweden’s far north, including the Suborbital Express 3 whose late November launch AFP witnessed as the temperature stood at -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit.)

These rockets can reach space at altitudes up to 260 km, but they are not capable of orbiting Earth.

Booming business

Esrange looks forward to joining the select group of space centres in Europe that includes Cape Canaveral, Florida, Baikonur, Kazakhstan and Kourou, French Guiana, Europe’s South American space hub.

There are many European projects, including the Azores in Portugal, Norway, Spain, Andoya Island, Andalusia in Spain, and the Shetland Islands in the UK, all trying to launch the first satellite from Europe.

The attempt to launch the first satellite from UK soil, from a Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 which took off from a Cornwall spaceport, failed earlier this week.

The SSC believes that it is the most advanced and will launch its first satellite at the end or early of 2023.

Satellite industry is booming. The Swedish state-owned company is currently in talks with many rocket manufacturers and clients looking to launch their satellites into orbit.

Esrange will be hosting ESA’s rocket landing trials, including a Themis reusable rocket project.

Although the Plesetsk, a northwestern Russian base, was responsible for several satellite launch operations in the post-Cold War period of the post-1945 period, it is the only European country to do so.

Small satellites are driving demand

Why then is this continent suddenly experiencing a boom in space industries, despite being far from the Equator.

Pahlsson says that instead of launching one giant satellite, satellites are smaller and more cost-effective. This spreads the demand and makes it cheaper.

In 2021, there were more objects launched into space than ever. In the years ahead, more records will be set.

Many satellites can orbit the North and South Poles. This makes Esrange attractive.

A launch site near European clients saves them and their satellites the long boat trips to Kourou.

Like in Europe, the rockets being built in Sweden are called “micro-rockets”.

They measure approximately 30m in length and can hold a payload of up to 100 kilos. SSC hopes to achieve payloads greater than one-tonne in the future.

SSC said that working in harsh Arctic conditions “comes with difficulties.”

Temperatures dropping to -20 and -30 degrees Celsius are a constant reminder to pay attention to metals that can become less stable in cold temperatures.

Spaceports on the continent have been gaining interest due to the war in Ukraine, where the engines for the European Vega Rocket are made.

“Europe requires independent access to space. Pahlsson says that the space business has changed due to the horrible situation in Ukraine.

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