WASHINGTON — The United States and Norway have signed an agreement to allow the export of American space hardware to Norway for launches there.
The governments of the two countries announced Jan. 16 that they signed the technology safeguards agreement, or TSA. The agreement, formally known as the Agreement on Technology Safeguards Associated with U.S. Participation in Space Launches from Norway, covers safeguards of U.S. launch vehicles and satellites that are exported to Norway for launches there.
The TSA would allow American satellites, and potentially launch vehicles, to operate from Andøya Spaceport, located on an island above the Arctic Circle in Norway. That facility received a license from Norwegian regulators in August to allow orbital launches.
“The agreement is a major step toward making Andøya one of the world’s most attractive locations for satellite launches,” said Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s minister for trade and industry, in a statement. “Norway and Andøya Spaceport greatly appreciate the opportunity to launch satellites for U.S. clients.”
No American companies have announced plans to launch from Andøya but German launch company Isar Aerospace is preparing to launch its first Spectrum small launch vehicle from the spaceport. Isar has not provided an updated schedule for that inaugural launch after previously stating it planned to carry out the launch in 2024.
The TSA with Norway is one of several the U.S. government has signed in recent years to allow transfer of launch vehicles and satellites to other countries while maintaining export controls. Similar agreements exist with New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with new TSAs announced with Australia in 2023 and with Canada in 2024.
While Andøya was developed for commercial launches, the Norwegian government sees potential military applications for the spaceport as well. The government appropriated 200 million knoner ($17.8 million) in its 2024 and 2025 defense budgets to support military use of the spaceport.
“Space activity is becoming more important for defense cooperation, and Andøya is of great value for Norway as well as for our allies,” Bjørn Arild Gram, Norway’s defense minister, said in a statement. “Norway has a leading role in space technology in the Arctic, and through this agreement, we enhance our important cooperation with the U.S. and NATO at Andøya.”
