The case in summary: Andøya Spaceport in Norway could become the first place in Europe to launch satellites, if the upcoming test launch goes as planned. The license to operate the spaceport is the first of its kind in Norway. The rocket company ISAR Aerospace is preparing for the first rocket tests at the spaceport. The tests will determine whether the systems meet all the necessary criteria before the first test launch. ISAR Aerospace has developed a new type of launch vehicle to transport satellites into space. Andøya Spaceport has received permission to launch 30 satellites a year. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – This is historic, because such a launch has not happened from the European continent before. That’s what astrophysicist Eirik Newth says when he guested on news’s Helgemorgen on Sunday. It is just over a week since the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries gave Andøya Spaceport the green light to operate the new spaceport, which opened on 2 November last year. The permit is the first of its kind in Norway. Now the rocket company ISAR Aerospace is preparing for the first rocket tests at the spaceport. This is how the rockets that ISAR Aerospace hopes to be able to launch during the autumn look like. Photo: ISAR Aerospace – We are now in the final stages before our first test launch. Right now we are preparing a so-called “hot fire test” of the phases in the rocket, writes managing director and founder Daniel Metzler in an email to news. Very simply explained, this means that the company fills the fuel tanks on the rocket with fuel (propane) and fires the engines on the ground to check that the systems are working. These tests will determine whether the systems meet all the necessary criteria before the first test launch. – If successful, we will carry out the test launch as quickly as possible, continues Metzler. But such launches are not risk-free. Can take to the air It is not more than a couple of weeks since things went wrong at the SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland, which is the British answer to Andøya Spaceport. Here, a rocket exploded during a test firing before it could become airborne. No one was injured during the explosion. – This is extremely complex technology, and if just one small thing goes wrong during the launch, the rocket explodes, says Newth. It went wrong when a German company was supposed to test a rocket at the SaxaVord space base in Shetland. No one was injured in the accident. – These are quite critical tests with quite a high risk, but absolutely necessary, says Newth and continues: – It is the eternal moment of excitement with rockets. It was a former NASA chief who said that a rocket launch is a barely controllable explosion. If it goes wrong, it will be the world’s biggest firework display. Eirik Newth is an astrophysicist and also presenter of the podcast Romkapsel. Photo: news High-tech ISAR Aerospace is a German aerospace company that has developed a new type of launch vehicle to transport satellites into space. – They have developed a new type of rocket engine that uses propane as fuel. It is not common in space travel. Photo: Andøya Space / Trond Abrahamsen The rocket itself is called Spectrum, and is intended to carry small satellites into space. – It can lift quite a few hundred kilograms into low Earth orbit, but not the largest satellites or space capsules such as Crew Dragon, with which Norwegian Jannicke Mikkelsen will go up in a few months. But it can become an important supplement in a market that is growing. In the process of winning the European space race Satellites have not been launched from the European continent before, and in that respect Andøya could become historic during the autumn. Newth says that the accident on Shetland means that Andøya is now the favorite to win the European space race. Andøya Spaceport is located on the outer side of Andøya, facing the ocean in the west. – You are actually very close, after things went wrong at SaxaVord, who had an ambition to be first. – We are in a very good position, because the only other relevant player is Esrange in Kiruna, and they are probably several years away. So this is “Andøya’s to lose”. Now it’s just a matter of “making money” – it’s a clear path, says Newth enthusiastically. The feature about Andøya begins about 35 minutes into the broadcast. On Andøya, they are one step closer to launching the first satellite. The Minister of Industry: A space adventure – This will put Norway on a strategically important map. It’s a new space adventure, says Cecilie Myrseth (Ap) on Helgemorgen. She believes that Norway is in the driver’s seat to take a unique position in Europe when it comes to space and satellites. – And the fact that you have this environment in northern Norway, on Andøya, complemented with the environment at KSAT in Tromsø, it is absolutely fantastic. I look forward to getting an overview of the tests, and being there when they happen. Industry and Fisheries Minister Cecilie Myrseth (Ap) believes Andøya is about to become a space adventure that will put Norway on the map. Photo: Erik Waagbø / news She says the ministry has been in regular dialogue with ISAR Aerospace, so that safety is ensured in the best possible way. – Then the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority will also come in and make its approvals, because if there is one thing we do not gamble with, it is safety. Safety at the forefront Lasse Berg, acting manager at Andøya Spaceport, agrees completely. – The most important thing for us is that this is done in a safe and good way. So safety is a top priority for us. For us, it is the security tasks that will be the most important, he says in Helgemorgen. While it is ISAR Aerospace that builds and will test the rockets, it is Andøya Spaceport that will be the port from which it will all take place. – Our personnel will help ensure that the area is safe. Then our people in the control room will also have the last hand on the button if things don’t go as planned. He says Andøya Spaceport is defined as a major accident activity. – We have large quantities of propane and liquid oxygen, and must therefore follow strict requirements and regulations for safe operation, says Berg. Photo: Andøya Space / Trond Abrahamsen This is how Andøya will mark the test launch So how will Andøya fans notice that there are ground-breaking test launches in Vesterålen? – According to the company, it will be possible to hear when testing, but it is not excessively loud because Spaceport is a good distance away from densely built-up areas, says Newth. – But when the launch takes place, you will see it quite clearly. It flies high and glows brightly when the rocket flame is lit. There will be a spectacular view of the entire Andøya. ISAR Aerospace also confirms that it is likely that the launch will be heard in surrounding areas. Andøya Spaceport’s license states that they can launch 30 satellites a year. Acting boss Berg also believes that this is realistic in the long term. – It is certainly realistic, but at the same time it depends on when the next customers establish themselves with us. As soon as more people have shown the right technical maturity, we will certainly be able to facilitate more launches. – This arouses interest, so that people will come to Andøya before the launch, I’m pretty sure. And when does Newth think the European space barrier can be broken? – I hope that it can happen during the autumn. But I suspect that it may be late in the autumn, but it is common to find small errors. It may take a few months. Published 01.09.2024, at 11.44 Updated 01.09.2024, at 13.37
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Ready for historic rocket test on Andøya – expert believes Norway is about to win the space race – news Nordland
