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

Why the Arctic and why Tromsø?

The Arctic is of key significance — not only as a unique scientific ecosystem but also as an area of growing economic, geopolitical, and security interest. Climate change in this area is multiply accelerated, with warming rates that significantly exceed the global average. Satellite technologies and services can significantly contribute to monitoring 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 center for space and climate infrastructure. It is home to the control center for the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) — a satellite launched by ESA 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 four ESA Business Incubation Centres in Norway. Research is conducted here in the fields of marine biotechnology, medicine, space, and sustainability.

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 expert working group. 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 play 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 monitoring, 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 is 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.

Despite its modest dimensions, AWS provides high-resolution vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity in almost all weather conditions — making it a valuable tool for meteorologists. This is particularly valuable in the Arctic, where atmospheric changes happen quickly and data collection 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 center in Tromsø, where it is processed and forwarded to EUMETSAT. The transmission and processing of data 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: a “New Space” model where satellites are smaller, developed faster, and cheaper than traditional missions. If it proves successful, it should be a 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 centers 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, navigation safety, protecting Arctic communities, and responding to environmental 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 developing new technologies, and in better adaptation to climate change.

Next steps and realization dynamics

The joint working group of ESA and Norwegian institutions is tasked with defining a strategic plan by the end of 2026: exactly what functions and projects the centre should contain, how it will be organized, who will make decisions, 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.