WASHINGTON – In a significant development, the United States and Norway have entered into a new agreement that facilitates the export of American space technology to Norway for launching activities. On January 16, officials from both nations announced the signing of the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA), formally referred to as the Agreement on Technology Safeguards Associated with U.S. Participation in Space Launches from Norway. This agreement establishes the necessary protections for U.S. launch vehicles and satellites that will be sent to Norway for use in launches.
The TSA will enable American satellites, and possibly launch vehicles, to be deployed from the Andøya Spaceport, situated on an island north of the Arctic Circle in Norway. This facility was granted a license by Norwegian regulatory authorities in August, allowing it to conduct orbital launches.
Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s Minister for Trade and Industry, expressed enthusiasm about the agreement, stating, “This is a major step toward making Andøya one of the world’s most attractive locations for satellite launches. Norway and Andøya Spaceport greatly appreciate the opportunity to launch satellites for U.S. clients.”
While no American companies have yet declared plans for launches from Andøya, German firm Isar Aerospace is gearing up to launch its inaugural Spectrum small launch vehicle from the site. The company has not yet provided a revised timeline for this launch, which it had previously indicated would occur in 2024.
The TSA with Norway is part of a broader trend, as the U.S. government has been signing similar agreements in recent years to facilitate the transfer of launch technology to other nations while ensuring that export controls remain intact. Comparable agreements have also been established with countries such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with new TSAs announced with Australia in 2023 and Canada in 2024.
In addition to its commercial ambitions, the Norwegian government recognizes the potential military applications of Andøya Spaceport. To support its military usage, the government allocated 200 million kroner (approximately $17.8 million) in its defense budgets for 2024 and 2025.
“Space activity is becoming increasingly significant for defense cooperation, and Andøya holds great value for Norway and our allies,” remarked Bjørn Arild Gram, Norway’s Defense Minister. “Norway plays a leading role in space technology in the Arctic, and through this agreement, we strengthen our essential cooperation with the U.S. and NATO at Andøya.”
