Andøya Space Center, Norway
Andøya Space Center, Norway
Andøya Space Center and formerly Andøya Rocket Range, is a rocket launch site, spaceport, and rocket testing facility located on Andøya Island, the northernmost island in the Vesterålen archipelago, within Andøy Municipality, Nordland County, Norway. Since its establishment in 1962, over 1,200 sounding and sub-orbital rockets have been launched from the site.
Ownership and Operations
Andøya Space Center operates as a civilian, limited liability company, with ownership split between:
- 90%– The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry
- 10%– Kongsberg Defence Systems
The facility operates on a commercial basis and also supports the SvalRak launch facility in Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard (Spitzbergen). It has hosted missions for major space agencies, including ESA, NASA, JAXA, and DLR, supporting scientific research and technology testing.
Andøya Spaceport: Europe’s First Small-Satellite Launch Site
Established in 2018, Andøya Spaceport aims to be Europe’s first dedicated launch base for small satellites. The facility is designed for launching satellites into polar or Sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), primarily for Earth observation and communication.
- Polar Orbit: Satellites pass over or near the Earth’s poles on each orbit, providing excellent coverage for Norwegian regions, northern communications, and sea monitoring.
- Sun-Synchronous Orbit: Satellites pass the same latitude at fixed local times (northbound and southbound). Their orbital plane shifts ~1° per day, maintaining a consistent angle with sunlight. This ensures maximum solar power efficiency and allows Earth observation satellites to capture consistent lighting conditions for climate and environmental monitoring.
Government Investment and Commercial Outlook
The Norwegian government invested NOK 365.6 million in Andøya Spaceport, expecting a commercial return on its investment as the demand for small satellite launches grows.
Andøya Space is set to play a crucial role in Europe’s expanding space industry, supporting research, innovation, and commercial satellite launches.