Amid geopolitical uncertainty and growing dependence on U.S. space infrastructure, Europe is turning to its northernmost regions to gain independent access to orbit. Two emerging spaceports—in Sweden’s Esrange and Norway’s Andoya—are leading a new European strategy to reduce reliance on American space dominance, particularly SpaceX’s Starlink network.

A Strategic Shift Triggered by War and Politics

The war in Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed “America First” agenda have amplified European anxieties. One particular concern: the fear that Elon Musk, a Trump ally, could restrict Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, which are vital to wartime communications. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius noted, “We’ve lost in competition to Elon Musk … and we need autonomous launching capabilities.”

Currently, Europe’s only spaceport is in French Guiana—7,000 km from the continent. In contrast, the Nordic facilities bring launches closer to home and under European control.

From Arctic Launchpads to Orbital Ambitions

The Esrange Space Centre, located above the Arctic Circle in Sweden, has been preparing for orbital launches by expanding infrastructure, including new launch pads and research hangars. Its remote location—surrounded by vast uninhabited land, reindeer herds, and snowy peaks—makes it ideal for rocket part recovery and secure operations.

Established in 1964, Esrange was inaugurated as mainland Europe’s first orbital launch site by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2023.

Meanwhile, Norway’s Andoya Spaceport, already licensed for 30 launches per year, recently completed a successful test with a small rocket by German startup ISAR Aerospace. ISAR's CEO Daniel Metzler credited Trump’s return to office for spurring European governments into action: “Frankly, Trump probably did more for European defence than any European politician before him.”

Commercial and Military Stakes

Esrange has signed deals with U.S.-based Firefly and South Korea’s Perigee to provide launch options. Firefly promises rapid-response launch capability within 24 hours—crucial for replacing critical satellites.

While Europe accounted for only 10% of the $143 billion global public space investment in 2024 and conducted just three launches (compared to 154 by the U.S.), the region is now aiming to catch up, fast.

NATO has expressed strong interest in both sites, seeking to leverage them for rapid deployment and security-driven launches. A NATO official noted the alliance needs “similar or even more aggressive timelines” to match emerging threats.