The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway have signed a letter of intent regarding the launch of an initiative to establish the ESA Arctic Space Centre in the city of Tromsø. This step begins the plan to establish a new “space hub” in the Arctic region — with the aim of improving satellite surveillance, climate research, navigation, and communications in the northern parts of Europe and the Arctic.

Why the Arctic and why Tromsø?

The Arctic has key significance — not only as a unique scientific ecosystem but also as an area of growing economic, geopolitical, and security interest. Climate changes in this area are accelerated manifold, with warming rates that significantly exceed the global average. Satellite technologies and services can significantly contribute to the monitoring of these changes, while simultaneously supporting sustainable development, environmental protection, as well as security and energy planning in the region.

The city of Tromsø is already an established centre of space and climate infrastructure. The control centre for the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) operates there — a satellite that ESA launched in August 2024. AWS is an example of how a constellation of satellites in polar orbit can improve short-term weather forecasts for the Arctic and beyond.

Furthermore, Tromsø already hosts a number of organizations and research institutions: it is the headquarters of the Arctic Council Secretariat, the Norwegian Polar Institute operates there, the campus of the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), and the Arctic Phi‑Lab as part of ESA programs, as well as one of the four ESA Business Incubation Centres in Norway. Research in the fields of marine biotechnology, medicine, space, and sustainability is conducted here.

What the ESA Arctic Space Centre brings — plans and mandate

According to the letter of intent, ESA and Norwegian agencies — among others through the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) — are establishing a joint working group of experts. This group will explore possibilities, define the scope of operations, thematic priorities, governance model, and timeline for the establishment of the centre. The final proposal should be presented no later than the end of 2026.

It is foreseen that the centre will have a key role in the areas of: Earth observation, navigation, and telecommunications — and that it will collaborate with stakeholders throughout the Arctic Circle. The aim is to build capacity that meets the growing needs for climate surveillance, security, and development in a region with special conditions.

Current mission — Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS)

AWS has been shown as a concrete step towards this goal. It involves a small meteorological satellite – weighing about 120–125 kg — equipped with a 19-channel microwave radiometer. It was launched on August 16, 2024, from the United States of America.

Despite its modest dimensions, AWS provides high-resolution vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity in almost all weather conditions — which makes it a precious tool for meteorologists. This is particularly valuable in the Arctic, where atmospheric changes happen quickly and data gathering from conventional sensors is often insufficient.

Data from the satellite is received in real-time — through a segment on Svalbard, then sent to the operations centre in Tromsø, where it is processed and forwarded further to EUMETSAT. Data transmission and processing enable up-to-date weather forecasts, with a latency of approximately 110 minutes from observation.

Although it is currently one satellite — AWS demonstrates a concept: the “New Space” model where satellites are smaller, developed faster, and cheaper than traditional missions. If it proves successful, it should be the precursor for a full constellation — EPS‑Sterna — planned as a network of six satellites that would provide almost continuous data, enabling “nowcasting” not only for the Arctic but for the entire planet.

Broader context: climate change, geopolitics, and European strategy

The Arctic is considered a region of strategic importance — both due to climate migrations, changes in snow and ice, and due to the potential for new maritime and energy routes, resources, and geopolitical balance. In this context, the development of centres for space capacities and satellite monitoring has a civil, security, and governance dimension.

Satellite data, meteorology, and navigation can significantly help in planning energy projects, monitoring the environment, climate change, safety of navigation, protection of Arctic communities, and in responding to ecological challenges. At the same time, cooperation within Europe and the Nordic countries shows how the Arctic project is viewed through a broad geopolitical and strategic framework.

The realization of the Arctic Space Centre in Tromsø would be a potentially decisive step for Europe — in strengthening its presence in the region, in the development of new technologies, and in better adaptation to climate changes.

Next steps and implementation dynamics

The joint working group of ESA and Norwegian institutions has the task of defining a strategic plan by the end of 2026: exactly which functions and projects the centre should contain, how it will be organized, who will decide, and what the timeline for establishment is. Only then will it be clearer when the centre could become operational. Until then, Tromsø and AWS remain a key part of ESA's Arctic strategy.

In the meantime, the results of the AWS mission are being monitored, meteorological data is being evaluated, and possibilities for the EPS-Sterna constellation to become a reality are being explored. If everything goes according to plan, this project could set a new standard for Arctic observation — combining science, technology, and geopolitics.