en.Wedoany.com Reported - Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden plans to conduct its first orbital launch in 2028 using Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket, marking the first time a satellite will be launched into orbit from Swedish territory. SSC Space and Firefly Aerospace jointly announced this timeline on June 30, signaling substantial progress in the development of the second operational orbital spaceport on the European continent.

Located 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Esrange has been used for launching sounding rockets and research balloons since the 1960s, but has never placed a payload into orbit. Its geographical location, once considered an obstacle for orbital missions, has now become an ideal choice for launching sun-synchronous and polar orbits due to flight corridors heading north over sparsely populated Norwegian territory and the Barents Sea. These orbits align with the core demands of the current Earth observation and reconnaissance market. The Swedish military is a founding customer, supporting capability development through a contract worth approximately SEK 209 million ($21.5 million) with its defense procurement agency, FMV.

The establishment of a regulatory framework is key to project advancement. Sweden became the sixth country to sign a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) with the United States, and in 2025 signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration through the Swedish National Space Agency, simplifying the launch licensing process. This gives Esrange a regulatory edge over other European projects. Firefly Aerospace adopts a "launch-as-a-franchise" model for this project, licensing its rocket technology and operational expertise to the local established operator SSC Space, rather than building and operating a spaceport overseas on its own. This model aims to shorten construction timelines and spread risk, but its success depends on the reliability of the Alpha rocket. Firefly has introduced the Block 2 version with extended stages and improved propellant tanks to enhance reliability and manufacturability, with the first full-configuration Block 2 flight expected in the second half of 2026. Charlotta Sund, CEO and Group President of SSC Space, stated that adding orbital launch capability on the European continent will strengthen Europe's competitiveness in the commercial space sector and help enhance defense resilience and strategic autonomy.