Key Points
- Europe is trying to launch its satellites to reduce its reliance on the U.S.
- Two new spaceports in the Arctic—one in Sweden, one in Norway—are racing to be the first.
- The urgency comes from fears over U.S. policies and Elon Musk’s control of the Starlink network.
- Europe is far behind, with only 3 space launches last year compared to 154 by the U.S.
Two small spaceports in the far north of Sweden and Norway are competing to launch the first satellites from mainland Europe. This effort is a direct response to growing fears in Europe about relying too much on the U.S. for access to space.
Concerns over “America First” policies and Elon Musk’s control of the vital Starlink satellite network have pushed European leaders to develop their launch capabilities urgently.
Europe has a lot of catching up to do. In 2024, the U.S. launched 154 times compared to Europe’s mere three. The continent’s only current major launch site is in French Guiana, South America, which is expensive and slow. The EU’s top defense official has stated that Europe “lost in competition” to Elon Musk and needs to maintain its independent launch options.
This is where the two new Nordic spaceports come in. Esrange, located in Sweden above the Arctic Circle, offers a vast, uninhabited land area, making it ideal for recovering rocket parts. Its Norwegian counterpart, Andoya, is on an island and has already conducted a successful test launch with a German rocket startup. Together, they represent Europe’s best hope for securing independent and rapid access to space.
Both sites are moving quickly. Andoya is aiming for its first commercial flights next year. Esrange has signed deals with U.S. and South Korean rocket makers, with one promising the ability to launch a rocket with just 24 hours’ notice. This rapid response capability is especially important for military and NATO needs.
While there’s still a lot of testing to be done, within a year or so, these Arctic outposts could be ready to launch Europe into a new era of space independence.
