Grants Permission to Operate Andøya Spaceport

According to a press release from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, this permission is a necessary prerequisite for launching satellites from Andøya.

This is the first time such a permit has been granted in Norway. Safety and considerations for the local population and fisheries have been central aspects in the evaluation process.

The permit includes the following key elements:

• The permit is granted for five years at a time and applies to one launch pad.
• Up to 30 launches are allowed per calendar year.
• Up to four of the 30 launches may occur at night, between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
• Launches can be conducted within a sector of 280 degrees to 360 degrees.
• Strict requirements are imposed for notifying launches internationally, locally, and to affected industries.

The Civil Aviation Authority also serves as the space authority and will oversee the conditions of the permit. In addition to the permit for Andøya Spaceport, Isar Aerospace, which owns the rockets to be launched from Andøya, must also obtain its own permit. The application for such a permit is currently under review by the Civil Aviation Authority. The plan is for the first launch to take place in 2024.