rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things. Located 200 km (124
mi) north of the Arctic Circle and surrounded by a vast wilderness, its geographic
location is ideal for these purposes. It was created in 1964 by the European Space
Research Organisation (ESRO), which later merged with the European Launcher
Development Organisation (ELDO) to become the European Space Agency. The
first rocket launch was on November 19, 1966. In 1972 ownership of the facility
was transferred to the newly created Swedish Space Corporation (SSC).
SSC’s complete range of stratospheric balloon services includes payload design
and manufacturing, service systems, balloon systems, launch services, in-flight
operations and recovery. They provide full support for missions of atmospheric
research, astronomy and other disciplines, as well as technical testing of orbital
reentry capsules and unmanned vehicles. It provides balloons capable of lifting
payloads of several tons to altitudes over 40 km (131,000 ft) and flight times of
greater than two weeks. In summer, circumpolar and long-duration transatlantic
flights westwards from Sweden to North America are performed. In winter, the
flights are eastwards. In spring and autumn it is possible to make either local or
regional flights in turnaround conditions lasting 1 or 2 days.
In the summer of 2004, there was a major extension of the entire launch field to
enable balloons to be launched in a variety of directions. It was divided into six
runways that would act as corridors nearly 200 m (650 ft) in length, aligned with
the directions of the prevailing winds in different seasons of the year. The entire
field is covered with fine gravel and at its center is a cavity containing electrical
power, ground cables, public address loudspeakers, and a telephone line.
This expansion is directly related to an agreement signed with NASA which, in
2005, started to use the site in the summer to launch balloons across the Atlantic
to Canada. When the balloons reached float altitude, they caught the wind from
the east and flew over Sweden, Norway, and the North Atlantic Ocean. When a
balloon reach northwestern Canada the flight would be terminated.
The Balloon Launch Area covers 800 × 600 m (2,624 × 2,624 ft) and includes
a number of buildings for preparing and handling the scientific payloads. The site
can handle payloads of up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Telemetry and remote control
links are available at all customary frequencies. The pad can launch balloons of up
to 1.12 million m
3
(40 million ft
3
) volume. The enhancements resulted in the
acquisition in 2004 of a new launch vehicle, the 40 ton Volvo truck nicknamed
“Hercules” which is capable of managing payloads up to 2,700 kg (6,000 lb).
Since 1974, Esrange has launched more than 649 high altitude balloons. In
2019 there were two ExoMars high altitude drop tests, one HEMERA-1 flight and
two BEXUS flights for university students. Since 1978 it has played an important
role in a variety of satellite missions. Today, there are around 140 daily contacts
with satellites in a variety of orbits. The Esrange Satellite Station is an important
node in SSC’s global network of ground stations.
134 Launch Sites
mi) north of the Arctic Circle and surrounded by a vast wilderness, its geographic
location is ideal for these purposes. It was created in 1964 by the European Space
Research Organisation (ESRO), which later merged with the European Launcher
Development Organisation (ELDO) to become the European Space Agency. The
first rocket launch was on November 19, 1966. In 1972 ownership of the facility
was transferred to the newly created Swedish Space Corporation (SSC).
SSC’s complete range of stratospheric balloon services includes payload design
and manufacturing, service systems, balloon systems, launch services, in-flight
operations and recovery. They provide full support for missions of atmospheric
research, astronomy and other disciplines, as well as technical testing of orbital
reentry capsules and unmanned vehicles. It provides balloons capable of lifting
payloads of several tons to altitudes over 40 km (131,000 ft) and flight times of
greater than two weeks. In summer, circumpolar and long-duration transatlantic
flights westwards from Sweden to North America are performed. In winter, the
flights are eastwards. In spring and autumn it is possible to make either local or
regional flights in turnaround conditions lasting 1 or 2 days.
In the summer of 2004, there was a major extension of the entire launch field to
enable balloons to be launched in a variety of directions. It was divided into six
runways that would act as corridors nearly 200 m (650 ft) in length, aligned with
the directions of the prevailing winds in different seasons of the year. The entire
field is covered with fine gravel and at its center is a cavity containing electrical
power, ground cables, public address loudspeakers, and a telephone line.
This expansion is directly related to an agreement signed with NASA which, in
2005, started to use the site in the summer to launch balloons across the Atlantic
to Canada. When the balloons reached float altitude, they caught the wind from
the east and flew over Sweden, Norway, and the North Atlantic Ocean. When a
balloon reach northwestern Canada the flight would be terminated.
The Balloon Launch Area covers 800 × 600 m (2,624 × 2,624 ft) and includes
a number of buildings for preparing and handling the scientific payloads. The site
can handle payloads of up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Telemetry and remote control
links are available at all customary frequencies. The pad can launch balloons of up
to 1.12 million m
3
(40 million ft
3
) volume. The enhancements resulted in the
acquisition in 2004 of a new launch vehicle, the 40 ton Volvo truck nicknamed
“Hercules” which is capable of managing payloads up to 2,700 kg (6,000 lb).
Since 1974, Esrange has launched more than 649 high altitude balloons. In
2019 there were two ExoMars high altitude drop tests, one HEMERA-1 flight and
two BEXUS flights for university students. Since 1978 it has played an important
role in a variety of satellite missions. Today, there are around 140 daily contacts
with satellites in a variety of orbits. The Esrange Satellite Station is an important
node in SSC’s global network of ground stations.
134 Launch Sites