U.S. and Norway sign technology safeguards agreement for launches from Andøya
U.S. and Norway sign technology safeguards agreement for launches from Andøya
U.S. and Norway sign technology safeguards agreement for launches from Andøya
U.S. and Norway sign technology safeguards agreement for launches from Andøya
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The TSA would allow American satellites, and potentially launch vehicles, to operate from Andøya Spaceport, located on an island above the Arctic Circle in Norway. That facility received a license from Norwegian regulators in August to allow orbital launches.
“The agreement is a major step toward making Andøya one of the world’s most attractive locations for satellite launches,” said Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s minister for trade and industry, in a statement. “Norway and Andøya Spaceport greatly appreciate the opportunity to launch satellites for U.S. clients.”
I’m not a rocket scientist but I’m a bit of a satellite hobbyist. Still, this could all be hogwash but here’s my understanding.
Andøya sits at a latitude of 69^o N so it’s best suited for launches into polar orbits or high-inclination orbits like the Molniya orbit, which has a long dwell time over high latitude areas like Russia and Canada.
Currently the US’s highest latitude launch site is in Alaska, at 57^o N.
I’m sure there are significant political reasons for the collaboration with the Norwegians as well, but the siting is interesting on its own.