OSLO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Space Agency (ESA) signed a letter of intent with Norway to explore establishing an Arctic Space Center in Tromso, northern Norway, aiming to use space technology to better monitor climate change and support sustainable development in the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian government said on Thursday.
According to a government statement, the letter of intent was signed by Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher in Bremen, Germany. ESA said that space-based technologies and services can help track and mitigate climate change, while supporting civil safety, security, and energy management across the region.
Simonetta Cheli, ESA's director of Earth Observation, said that the change in the Arctic region "is inevitable," but "I believe that space can be a positive influence for the environment and the people of the Arctic region." He added that an ESA Arctic Space Center could significantly benefit Norway, the wider Arctic, and the rest of Europe.
ESA and Norway will now set up a joint working group of experts to examine options for the proposed center. The group is expected to report back before the end of 2026 with recommendations on the center's scope, thematic priorities, governance model, and implementation timeline. The ESA Arctic Space Center is expected to focus on Earth observation, navigation, and telecommunications, and to work closely with stakeholders across the Arctic region.
So far, Tromso already plays an important role in European space activity. It hosts mission control for ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite, launched in August 2024, which demonstrates how a constellation of polar-orbiting satellites can improve short-term weather forecasts for the Arctic and the globe. The city is also home to a wide range of scientific and technological organizations.
Norway has been an ESA member state since 1987. Although not a member of the European Union, Norway takes part in the EU's Copernicus Earth observation program and Galileo satellite navigation system through arrangements under the Agreement on the European Economic Area. ■
