EU leaders aim high in Kiruna

With space in sight, the king, the government and the European Commission have inaugurated the Esrange space base’s new launch site for satellites.

Already this year, the first launch will take place at the base outside Kiruna.

The official ribbon-cutting was performed by King Carl Gustaf together with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen just before 11 a.m. today.

“This is a huge step for (Swedish space company) SSC, for Sweden, for Europe and the rest of the world. Satellites are essential for many functions of daily life in today’s modern world, and the need for them will only increase in the coming years as space will play an even more important role,” said Stefan Gardefjord, CEO of SSC, in a press release in Christmas.

Spaceport Esrange will be the first facility for launching satellites on European soil. In the past, satellites have been sent out from the EU’s space base on the other side of the Atlantic in French Guiana.

In addition to launching satellites into orbit, the base will also be used for the EU’s test project with reusable rockets.

The opening takes place in parallel with the EU Commission’s ongoing visit to Kiruna due to the start of Sweden’s presidency of the EU’s Council of Ministers in the spring of 2023. A press conference with Kristersson and von der Leyen will be held in Kiruna at 4pm this afternoon.