SSC Space and Firefly Aerospace are proceeding with the construction of the launch pad at Esrange Space Center in Kiruna (northern Sweden). The first orbital launch using Firefly's Alpha rocket remains scheduled for 2028.
The infrastructure completed to date includes, among other things, a launch control centre, a payload handling facility, a launch vehicle integration building, and tracking, control and safety systems. The new launch facility is being built for Firefly's two-stage Alpha rocket.
"An orbital launch capability from the European mainland will strengthen Europe's capacity and competitiveness in the commercial space arena, while also contributing to increased resilience and strategic autonomy in the field of defence," says Charlotta Sund, Chief Executive Officer and Group President of SSC Space, in the state-owned space company's press release.