EU Seeks Satellite Launch Sites in Norway, UK, and Canada
The European Union plans to secure new satellite launch sites outside of Europe, including in Norway, the UK, and Canada. This move is driven by an anticipated sixfold increase in launch needs by 2034.
The European Union is seeking to secure new satellite launch locations beyond its current capabilities, with potential sites identified in Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada. This initiative stems from an anticipated sixfold increase in required rocket launches by 2034, according to EU Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
By 2034, the EU projects an annual need for 62 orbital launches to support its critical space infrastructure. This includes the Galileo navigation system, the Copernicus Earth observation program, a secure satellite communication service, and a planned government Earth observation data service.
Europe's current launch capacity is limited. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Ariane 6 rocket has a capacity of 10 launches per year, a figure that needs to increase to 14.
Discussions are underway for utilizing sites such as Andøya in Norway and locations in Scotland. Portugal is also exploring feasibility in the Azores, and Canada is considered a potential partner. ESA operates independently of the EU, though many of its member states are EU members, and the UK and Norway are also ESA members.