In less than 2 months, Andoya Space Center has signed two contracts with Launcher’s German operators ISAR AEROSPACE and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA). Small rocket launchers are predicted to become a €30bn market by 2027 — and, with an exclusive new partnership alongside Norwegian rocket launchpad Andøya Space, ISAR and RFA are well positioned to take advantage of that. They both manufacture micro-satellite launchers — otherwise known as carrier rockets — that are smaller and lower in price than bigger launchers on the market. Launching a satellite into space, however, is a complicated business. It requires a whole launch system — including a launch vehicle, launch pad, vehicle assembly and fueling systems, and other related infrastructure. At the moment, there is not yet any low orbital launchpad in mainland Europe. Typically, satellite manufacturers launch their satellites from the US, India, Japan or Russia, which is costly and involves “a lot of hassle” in terms of logistics, and import and export control. But now, with exclusive access to Andøya Space’s launchpad on the northwestern coast of Norway, ISAR and RFA can launch rockets far more easily for the next 20 years. Birds’ eye view of the two orbital launch pads planned at Andøya Space. Andøya’s unique location allows a flexible, ultra-competitive launch service for orbital inclinations ranging from 87 to 108 degrees. The launch site is easily accessible within Europe and can help to strengthen our space launch industry. Andøya Space got their zonal area approval September 2020 and have permit for 30 launches per year from their new spaceport 35 km south of the existing launch site. The spaceport's location, 69 degrees north and above the Arctic circle on the coastline of Andøya in Nordland county has a flightpath that ensures a trajectory whose ground track does not cross populated areas. Andøya Space provides launch pads, payload integration facilities as well as the technical infrastructure on site. Has previously announced in our news page, GTD has been awarded last year by Andoya Space Center for the Launch Pad ground segment systems including Telemetryt, Localisation, Control center and flight safety.
