Esrange

BLAST payload and high altitude balloon shortly before launch.

Esrange is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things. Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle and surrounded by a vast wilderness, its geographic location is ideal for many of these purposes. Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic has looked into the option of using this site for launching space tourism, starting in 2011.The local hotel Aurora has been used by tourists since December 2007 [http://www.nsd.se/telegram.aspx?artid=78160&type=tgr] , who want to spend time at the only rocket base allowing tourists to sleep in the hotels, which are normally meant for scientists and engineers.

Esrange was built in 1964 by ESRO, the "European Space Research Organisation", which later became the European Space Agency. In 1972, ownership was transferred to the newly started Swedish Space Corporation.

In 2007, it has been proposed that Spaceport Sweden be colocated with Esrange at Kiruna.Fact|date=July 2008

Launchpads

* Aries launcher
* Centaure launcher
* MRL Launcher (used for the Black Brant)
* Skylark launch tower (used for the Maxus and Skylark)

Launch list

ee also

*Swedish National Space Board
*Swedish Institute of Space Physics
*North European Aerospace Test range
*Rocket Launch Sites Worldwide
*Spaceport Sweden

External links

* [http://www.ssc.se/default.asp?groupid=200451411504851 Esrange] - Official site
* [http://stratocat.com.ar/bases/37.htm Listings of stratospheric balloons launched from there]