Andøya Spaceport received the long-awaited license today, which gives the spaceport formal status as a spaceport operator with primary responsibility for developing, operating and ensuring safe operations from the new spaceport on Andøya. – This permission is a necessary prerequisite for being able to launch satellites from Andøya. I am happy that we have now taken another step closer to the first launch, says Minister of Business Cecilie Myrseth (Ap). Facts about the permit: This is the first time such a permit has been granted in Norway. Safety and consideration for the local population and the fisheries have been central aspects to consider in the work. The permit entails approval to operate a space port in accordance with the Space Act (Act on the launch of objects from Norwegian territory, etc. into outer space). It is one of several prerequisites for being able to launch rockets from Andøya Spaceport. The permit regulates, among other things, the launch sector and how many annual launches are permitted. It sets strict requirements for notification of launches, internationally, locally and for industries affected. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority is also a space inspector and will follow up on the terms of the permit. In addition to the permit for Andøya Spaceport, Isar Aerospace, which owns the launch vehicles to be launched from Andøya, must also have its own permit. An application for such a permit is being processed by the Norwegian Aviation Authority. The plan is for the first launch to take place during 2024. This means the permit: Permission is granted for five years at a time and it applies to one launch pad Up to 30 launches are permitted per calendar year Up to four out of 30 launches can take place at night, in the period at . 23.00–07.00 It can be launched in a sector of 280 degrees to 360 degrees. There are strict requirements for notification of launches, internationally, locally and for industries affected But the license is not the only reason for Norway’s chances of becoming the first nation in Europe to launch satellites into space. – The competition is now between Great Britain, Norway and Sweden. Norway is well positioned to win this space race, says news journalist and space expert Hallvard Sandberg. On Monday, something happened which means that Norway is moving forward in the queue. – Norway’s fiercest competitor is the space base SaxaVord Spaceport on the island of Unst in Shetland, which will launch a German rocket. A test rocket was launched on Monday. It went very badly. They were going to test the engines, and then you ended up with the whole thing exploding. Sandberg says that the BBC captured the spectacular explosion and subsequent fire. Large flames and clouds of smoke could be seen shooting horizontally from the bottom of the rocket. The entire structure was then engulfed in fire, the BBC reports. Photo: BBC Powerful explosion The German company RFA informs the BBC that no one was injured in the explosion. Large flames and clouds of smoke could be seen shooting horizontally from the bottom of the rocket. The entire structure was then engulfed in fire. Nevertheless, the German company claims that the launch platform was not damaged and is secured, according to the BBC. Sandberg does not fully trust that information. – It may look like the launch platform has also suffered significant damage. It could be bad news. It could take a long time to get it repaired, says Sandberg. Competing to be first There are two German companies that are now preparing to launch rockets in Europe. One is Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), which is located in Shetland. The other is Isar Aerospace, which has announced that it will launch a rocket from Andøya in Norway during the year. Andøya has already launched research rockets and the like for 60 years. But no one has been fast enough to orbit the Earth. The rockets in question are large launch vehicles that reach space and can carry satellites as cargo. So far, only the United States, French Guiana and Australia have launched such rockets. Andøya Space and Andøya Spaceport Photo: Andøya Spaceport Andøya Space formerly Andøya Space Center, formerly Andøya Rocket Launch Field: A center for launching research rockets and releasing scientific balloons. Andøya Space launches sounding rockets and research balloons on Andøya and Svalbard. In addition to launching scientific rockets, the business includes scientific balloons, unmanned aircraft, the Alomar observatory, dissemination of knowledge through Narom and the space shuttle Aurora. Andøya Space Center is in Oksebåsen on Andøya, 5 km southwest of Andenes in Andøy municipality in Nordland county. The facility is also equipped with a number of ground instruments that are used in the exploration of near space. The first rocket from Andøya was called Ferdinand 1, and was launched on 18 August 1962 to study the polar ionosphere. Andøya Space AS is owned 90% by the state at the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries and 10% by Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, a subsidiary of Kongsberg Gruppen ASA. Andøya Spaceport A commercial launch base for small satellites that orbit the Earth. Andøya Spaceport is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Andøya Space AS group. Sources: Norsk Romsenter, Andøya Space, as of April 2023 – The two German companies are fighting to be the first Europeans out. It could look like the company that chose Shetland was a little ahead of the curve. Now you shouldn’t accept someone else’s misfortune, but the explosion on Monday makes it look like Norway is well placed to be the first to come out, says Sandberg. This is what is meant by spaceport: A spaceport or cosmodrome is a place for launching (or receiving) spacecraft. Andøya has already launched research rockets and the like for 60 years. But no one has been fast enough to orbit the Earth. The new rockets that will launch from the new launch base will do that. As a result, Norway will have its own spaceport. As of now, there is no such spaceport on the European mainland. The launch base that is used now is, among other things, on French Guiana in South America. Norway is now working hard to be first in the “space race”, i.e. to finish the base before, for example, the Swedes. news journalist and space travel expert Hallvard Sandberg. Photo: Karen Sandberg German congratulations The German company Isar Aerospace, which will launch on Andøya, has not announced an exact date for its launch. But the rocket in question is already on Andøya. – We congratulate Andøya Spaceport on receiving an operator’s license for the launch site. This milestone makes it possible for our team at Isar Aerospace to continue with our ambitious plan and soon start with the last tests before the first test flight, says Alexandre Dalloneau to news. He is vice president of launch operations at Isar Space. – Together with Andøya Spaceport, our team has created a fantastic piece of engineering, the first launch site for rockets that will orbit the earth on the European continent, he continues. According to Sandberg, the Germans keep their cards close to their chests. However, that could change quickly, he believes. – When the license from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the formalities are in place, all equipment is ready on Andøya. They have said they will launch within the year. – A historic moment Business Minister Cecilie Myrseth says that the first satellite launch from Andøya will be a historic moment for Norway as a space nation. – Norway will get a capacity that few other countries have, and which will be of great use not only for Norway, but also for our allies and partners in the EU and NATO. I have great faith that the business community in Northern Norway and the rest of the country will be able to utilize the potential that lies in the spaceport, and I look forward to the continuation, she says. Myrseth believes that the opportunities for Northern Norway are great. – We have a world-leading environment in Norway in the space industry. It is spread all over Northern Norway. We have Andøya, Narvik, Tromsø and Svalbard. This together makes us very attractive as a space nation. We are now an important step forward and I look forward to following along on the journey. Industry Minister Cecilie Myrseth hopes Norway will be the first in Europe to launch rockets into Earth orbit. – It is of great importance for Norway as a space nation Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / Aurora Ytreberg Meløe – The government has great ambitions for Andøya. Space-based services are central to military operations and are becoming increasingly important in cooperation with allies. Andøya Spaceport is important for the needs of the Armed Forces, says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp). Space race news has previously told that the space race is between Norway, Sweden and Great Britain. In November last year, Andøya Spaceport opened its launch base for satellites. Andøya Spaceport was opened on 2 November last year by Crown Prince Haakon. Photo: Adrian Dahl Johansen / news Today, the Norwegian space industry consists of around 40 large and small companies, which sell their services all over the world. The industry consists of everything from launching to parts and material for satellites, to making money from satellite data. Total turnover is around NOK 8 billion annually. But Andøya, as I said, is not alone. In December 2023, SaxaVord Spaceport received approval from the British Civil Aviation Authority to begin orbital launches this year. In Sweden, the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, is working on exactly the same thing. The Swedes have built the space center Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, which was opened by King Carl Gustaf. Both Norway and Sweden have fired sounding rockets for many years and have a good infrastructure at the bottom. The space center Esrange Space Center, which is based in Kiruna in Sweden. Photo: Mattias Forsberg / SSC Last year, news told about a 300-kilogram research rocket from there that went off course and crashed into a mountainside in Målselv in Troms. Sandberg says that the Swedes have stated several times that they are still in the competition. – It has a great facility, but they don’t have any rockets, from what I understand. They have everything ready, but no one has said that they will launch a rocket from there. Then things go badly. Industry Minister Myrseth hopes Norway will win the battle. – I have a very strong competitive instinct. But what is important is that the environment on Andøya, which we have used a lot of resources to build up, is now also producing results. I think Europe and the world will also benefit from that. We are very far along now, and I can’t wait to see this being launched from Andøya. Published 22.08.2024, at 3 p.m
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Explosion on Shetland allows Norway to win space race – news Nordland
