{"id":68330,"date":"2024-07-24T09:37:06","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T09:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/07\/24\/sweden-angles-to-fill-a-void-in-natos-space-plans\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:10:31","slug":"sweden-angles-to-fill-a-void-in-natos-space-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2024\/07\/24\/sweden-angles-to-fill-a-void-in-natos-space-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweden angles to fill a void in NATO\u2019s space plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON \u2014 Sweden is looking to establish itself as a key player in the international space domain by virtue of its northern geostrategic position and by ramping up research and development capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, the Swedish government adopted the country\u2019s first-ever defense and security space strategy, which seeks to make Stockholm a space hub for allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe might be the new kids on the block in NATO, but we have been doing space research for several decades in Sweden \u2013 we\u2019ve [now] asked what void can we fill in the alliance in the space domain,\u201d Col. Ella Carlsson, Sweden\u2019s space chief, told reporters here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Sweden is home to the Esrange Space Center (ESP), the first European mainland orbital spaceport. The center has in part served as a launching pad for sounding rockets and has carried out research and testing of rocket engines and fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\t