Europe’s first satellite launch complex opens in Arctic Sweden
Mainland Europe’s first satellite launch complex was officially inaugurated today at the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, northern Sweden.
The inauguration takes place in connection with Sweden taking over the presidency of the Council of the EU. In attendance were Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Moderate Party).
Kiruna is perhaps best known for its mining industry. But the space industry also plays an important role. Sweden’s only space base is located just outside the center of Kiruna and is one of two European space bases.
“This is a big moment for Europe and the European space industry. This space series is exactly the infrastructure we need,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the opening ceremony. She highlighted the importance of satellites in terms of security, the green shift, climate change and natural disasters, among others.
“If we want to effectively track the effects of climate change, space offers 60 percent of the measurements we need. The space perspective gives us the majority of the data we need to understand what is happening,” she adds.