The European Union is looking beyond its borders to secure launch sites for its growing satellite constellation ambitions, according to a report by the Financial Times. Andrius Kubilius, the EU Commissioner for Space, indicated that the bloc will need to explore launch facilities in countries like Norway, the UK, and Canada to meet its projected increase in rocket launches.
Expanding Launch Capacity
The EU anticipates a sixfold increase in its launch rate by 2034, necessitating approximately 62 orbital launches per year. This surge in activity is driven by the need to support critical systems such as the Galileo navigation system, the Copernicus Earth observation program, the secure satellite communication system, and a new government Earth observation service.
Currently, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane 6 rocket, primarily launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, has an annual launch capacity of only 10 missions, with plans to increase this to 14. This falls significantly short of the projected demand.
Exploring New Launch Locations
Commissioner Kubilius highlighted that the search for additional launch sites is not limited to mainland Europe. The EU is considering locations in neighboring regions, including Andøya Island in Norway and sites in Scotland. Portugal is also exploring the feasibility of using launch facilities in the Azores.
Canada has also emerged as a potential partner for launch operations. This strategic move reflects the EU’s commitment to bolstering its space capabilities and ensuring the timely deployment of its satellite infrastructure.
ESA’s Role and International Cooperation
It is important to note that while many ESA member states are also EU members, the European Space Agency itself is not an EU subsidiary. Both the UK and Norway are official members of ESA, while Canada holds a cooperation agreement. This distinction underscores the collaborative nature of European space endeavors and the importance of international partnerships.
Kubilius emphasized the EU’s drive to expand its launch capabilities, stating, “We are massively expanding our launch capacity… The sites are not just on the European continent but also in the vicinity, like Andøya in Norway and Scotland; Portugal is investigating the feasibility in the Azores; Canada is one of the potential cooperation choices.”
The initiative to secure external launch sites is a crucial step for the EU to achieve its ambitious goals in space, ensuring a robust and responsive satellite network for navigation, Earth observation, and secure communications in the coming decade.
