Sweden inaugurates the Space Center in January
Ibadan, 30th December 2022. – On January 13, 2023, the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and European and Swedish political dignitaries will visit the Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden to cut the ribbon for a new spaceport. The new spaceport, which has seen years of preparation and construction, will significantly reshape the European space landscape. The event takes place in Kiruna in connection with Sweden taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
For Europe, the new orbital launch facility at Esrange is a long-awaited critical asset. According to the release, only about ten countries can currently launch satellites. Therefore, Spaceport Esrange will offer an independent European gateway to space, complementing and strengthening current European capabilities in French Guiana.
“This new launch complex will help create a foundation for a resilient Europe in space. New constellations of satellites in orbit, responsive launch capabilities and the development of reusable rockets will enable a safe, competitive and sustainable Europe,” says Stefan Gardefjord, CEO of Svenska Rymdbolaget (SSC). “This is a big step for SSC, Sweden, Europe and the rest of the world. Satellites are essential for many functions of daily life in today’s modern world, and the need for them will only increase in the coming years as space will play an even more important role,” Gardefjord added.
In addition to launching satellites into orbit, Spaceport Esrange will also host the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Themis program by ArianeGroup. In addition, the launch facility will host suborbital test launches of several next-generation rockets.
As Spaceport Esrange nears its inauguration, satellite owners and orbital rocket manufacturers are lining up as potential partners for future launches and reusability tests. The space center’s schedule shows the first satellite launch in late 2023.