The Swedish countryside, where Europe launches its dreams into space

Esrange is not just a base, but a European space hope

Somewhere in a remote Swedish forest, beyond the Arctic Circle, in the city of Kiruna, there is a complex on which the future of European cosmonautics depends. This is the Esrange Space Center, a low—profile but extremely important player in the global space race. This is where Europe is trying to regain the right to launch its satellites from its own land, regardless of the United States, Russia or France.

Esrange has long been more than just a testing ground for probes. It is becoming a full-fledged launch pad for orbital missions.

Why Sweden and not France or Germany?

At first glance, a strange place for a cosmodrome is snow, frost, eternal darkness in winter. But that's what makes Kiruna perfect. Firstly, there is a huge and empty area where you can safely drop rocket stages. Secondly, the high latitude makes it possible to efficiently launch satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits, the ones needed for Earth observation, climate, and exploration.

In addition, Sweden is a neutral country, and its infrastructure has been used by the European Space Agency (ESA) for decades.

Launches from the mainland — freedom and independence

Until now, Europe has mainly relied on the Kourou space center in French Guiana. But it's a long way off, and the logistics are complicated. And in times of crisis, such as political tensions, access may be limited.

Esrange provides an alternative. Launching missiles from the territory of Europe means being independent. There is no need to transport a satellite across the ocean, coordinate with third countries, or wait for a suitable window. It can be assembled, tested and launched — from Europe, to Europe, for Europe.

What is Esrange changing for Europe

It's not just probes and suborbital launches anymore. Esrange is ready to accept orbital rockets, including from new private companies developing mini-launch vehicles. This paves the way for fast, targeted launches of small satellites, which are critical for communications, navigation, and safety.

Europe no longer wants to be a passive spectator. She wants to be a gambler. And Esrange is her launching pad.

The Gravitics orbital aircraft carrier project: a new stage in the race for space supremacy

 

The orbital aircraft carrier project, led by the American company Gravitics, marks a strategic shift in the race for space supremacy. The program, backed by a STRATFI contract worth up to $60 million awarded by the U.S. Space Force through its SpaceWERX innovation office, aims to demonstrate the ability to pre-position and rapidly deploy satellites directly from Earth orbit by 2026.

The main characteristics of the project

- Objective: The orbital aircraft carrier is designed to transform orbital operations by providing the armed forces with rapid and autonomous tactical response capabilities.

- First version: The first, more modest version of the orbital aircraft carrier is expected to be launched next year. This will be followed by a more ambitious version with an internal volume of 60 cubic meters and a starting weight of 5,000 to 10,000 kg.

- Construction: The design includes a cylindrical module wrapped in solar panels that can be opened in orbit, providing an unpressurized compartment to accommodate and release multiple satellites, depending on operational needs.

Gravitics' orbital aircraft carrier project departs from previous approaches that focused on rapid ground launches to replace disabled satellites. Instead, the orbiting aircraft carrier takes a proactive position, placing deployment platforms already in orbit near strategic zones, which significantly reduces reaction time in the event of a threat or loss of power. According to Gravitics CEO Colin Dogan, the system mimics the logic of the Navy: "Aircraft carriers allow the military to have reserves near areas of interest. Our orbital aircraft carriers are doing the same thing, but in space."

This strategic shift is taking place against a backdrop of growing technological competition. The head of the US Space Force, General Cheyne Soltzman, recently stressed that achieving space superiority has become a national priority. In light of the improvement of Chinese and Russian space capabilities, including neutralization systems and space combat simulation, the orbital aircraft carrier program is seen as a critical asset to bridge this gap.

China paves the way for space dominance with more than 100 satellites under control

 

China continues to strengthen its position in the space sector, taking control of more than 100 huge satellites. This significant step paves the way for China's dominance in space and challenges the long-standing leadership of the United States. China's ambitious successes in space exploration are rapidly changing the global power dynamics in this area.

Chinese space achievements in recent years have been impressive. From pioneering orbital refueling to the development of stealth technology, China is making rapid progress. These successes also include aspirations to explore the Moon and Mars, which highlights the country's ambitions in the space race.

Control of more than 100 satellites allows China to significantly expand its capabilities in space. This includes improved navigation systems, enhanced communications and intelligence, and the development of new technologies. This dominance in space gives China a strategic advantage and allows it to influence global power dynamics.

For a long time, the United States has been a leader in the space sector, but China's successes pose a serious challenge to this dominance. Chinese space programs are developing rapidly, and this is causing concern in Washington. The United States is forced to rethink its strategies and increase investments in space technology in order to maintain its leadership.

China is actively developing programs to explore the moon and Mars. Successful missions such as Chang'e-4 to the Moon and the planned mission to Mars demonstrate the country's technological capabilities. These aspirations underscore China's ambitions to become a leading space power and play a key role in future space missions.

The development of stealth technology is another important achievement of China. These technologies allow satellites and spacecraft to remain invisible to radars and other detection systems, which significantly increases their survival and efficiency in space.

China continues to rapidly develop its space programs, taking control of more than 100 satellites and demonstrating ambitious successes in space exploration. These achievements challenge the long-standing dominance of the United States and change the global dynamics of power in space. In the face of increasing competition, China is striving to become a leading space power, influencing the future of space research and technology.