Norway's Andoya Spaceport Takes Significant Step Towards Launch Operations

A major milestone has been achieved for Norway's space industry as Andøya Spaceport has officially received its Launch Site Operator License from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This license grants Andøya Spaceport the authorization to conduct launch operations, paving the way for a new era of space activities in Norway.

Andøya Space, also named Andøya Space Center and formerly Andøya Rocket Range, is a rocket launch site, rocket range, and spaceport on Andøya island (the northernmost in the Vesterålen archipelago) in Andøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Since 1962, over 1,200 sounding and sub-orbital rockets of various configurations have been launched from the site.

The issuance of the license is a culmination of years of planning, development, and rigorous safety assessments. Andøya Spaceport has invested significantly in infrastructure, including a launch pad, control center, and support facilities, to ensure that it meets the highest international standards.

Isar Aerospace of Germany signed an agreement with Andøya Space, securing exclusive access for a period of up to twenty years to one launch pad on the island Andøya. As a launch site operator, the Andøya Spaceport provides launch pads, payload integration facilities as well as the technical infrastructure on site. 

Ingun Berget, President of Andøya Spaceport said: “The opening of the spaceport on Andøya island marks an important milestone for Norway, European New Space industry and our partnership with Isar Aerospace: This enables us to have the first satellite launches ever from European soil to take place from Andøya. The attendance of today's opening by Crown Prince Haakon underlines the importance of our endeavor and puts us on the New Space map in Europe.” 

Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace said: “Today, Norway, the Andøya region and Isar Aerospace take a big step towards space. Over the last five years, we have built a rocket that will help to solve the most crucial bottleneck in the European space industry – sovereign and competitive access to space. Together with Andøya Spaceport, our team has created an excellent piece of engineering, the first orbital launch site in continental Europe which will bring this access to space to Norway, and back to Europe. For Isar Aerospace, this step equals entering the final stages of our path to first flight. For Europe, it means being able to harness the power of the space platform.”

Isar Aerospace will be the first to utilize the new facility, launching the inaugural flight of its Spectrum rocket. The 28-metre tall two-stage rocket is designed to be capable of delivering payloads of up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. 

While neither Isar nor Andøya Space has announced an expected launch date, a statement from the German launch provider said “Congratulations Andøya Spaceport, for receiving the Launch Site Operator License. This milestone enables our team at Isar Aerospace to continue with our ambitious plan and soon start with the final tests ahead of Spectrum’s first test flight!”

The spaceport's location offers several advantages, including its proximity to the Arctic and its favorable weather conditions. These factors make it an attractive destination for small satellite launches, particularly those intended for Earth observation and scientific research.

With the launch site operator license in place, Andøya Spaceport is now ready to welcome its first customers. The spaceport has already secured several launch contracts and is expected to play a vital role in supporting Norway's growing space industry.

The achievement marks a significant step forward for Norway's space program and demonstrates the country's commitment to innovation and technological advancement. As Andøya Spaceport begins operations, it is poised to become a hub for space activities in Europe and beyond.