Recently, on July 9th, 2024, at 21:00 CEST, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched Europe’s newest rocket, Ariane 6 from Kourou in French Guyana. Interestingly, the official spaceport for ESA’s launches is not in continental Europe but in South America, close to the equator. However, did you know there are also rocket launching sites in the old continent?
Over the years, Kourou has become the primary launching site for ESA missions due to its location close to the equator. This location is deemed special as it increases payload capacity, reduces fuel consumption, has a larger launch window and stable weather all-year round, and it is close to the sea away from the population (minimizing danger). But that doesn’t mean that in Europe there are no Spaceports. Over the past couple of years, you may have heard about Andøya (Norway), Cornwall (England) or even Esrange (Sweden).
Andøya Spaceport was opened on November 2nd, 2023, becoming the first operational orbital spaceport in continental Europe, it will host Isar Aerospace’s maiden rocket launch. The German startup, founded in 2018 is planning to offer launch services for small and medium-sized satellites using Andøya as its primary launching site. The Norwegian site is attractive due to its location far up north, making it ideal for satellites that will orbit around polar and sun-synchronous orbits, and it facilitates commercial European launches.
Sutherland, located in England’s west coast, it is the UK’s first licensed spaceport. The facilities have hosted Virgin Orbit’s first launch attempt, unfortunately unsuccessful, but it has become quite attractive for other partners to launch from the site. The spaceport is special, since it uses modified aircraft to carry the satellites to high altitudes (horizontal launch solution).
Esrange Space Center is part of the Swedish Space Cooperation (SCC) and was built back in 1964 as a research and test facility in Kiruna, north of Sweden. More than 500 rockets have been launched over the years, but in 2020 it was decided that the site could become a facility to launch small satellites. The orbital launch site was inaugurated in 2023, and the first launch is planned for this year.
The development of these spaceports tries to have a positive economic impact and help grow the private space industry in the continent. Are there other spaceports in Europe on the way?