The Esrange Space Centre: Sweden's gateway to space

This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 20 October 2026, shows the Esrange Space Centre and its surroundings near the city of Kiruna in northern Sweden, within the Arctic Circle. Boreal forests, lakes, and wetlands extend across the area, and the Vittangiälven River winds through them. Dark green forests contrast with the brown and ochre tones of the open vegetation.

In Kiruna, activities linked to the European space sector date back to 1966, and include sounding rocket launches, stratospheric balloon flights, and satellite ground services. On 5 November 2026, Esrange will kick off the “Protect What Matters. Access to Space” Launch Tour, during which the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, will meet the people, companies and public authorities shaping Europe’s launcher ecosystem. More information about the Tour is available on the EU Space website.