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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Esrange Space Center 🇸🇪 Sweden Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Baikonur Cosmodrome 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | New Mexico Spaceport Authority | Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) | Roscosmos |
| Ownership | Public-Private | State Enterprise | International Consortium |
| Region | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan |
| Launch pads | — | 1 orbital pad (under development; multiple sounding rocket launch rails)as of [1] | 9 active (Soyuz-2 × 3, Proton-M × 2, Zenit × 1, Zenith-3SLB, and reserve pads)as of [1]Many historic pads retired; total complex has 52 pads historically ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 5-10 | 8–12 suborbitalas of [1]Orbital capacity ~100 kg planned for 2027; SSC orbital pad construction ongoing | ~15as of [1] |
| Max payload (LEO) | — | suborbital only (historical); ~100 kg to SSO planned 2027as of [1] ↑ Highest capacity | 22,800 kg to LEO (Proton-M)as of [1] |
| First operational launch | 2011 | 1966-11-19as of [1]First Nike-Cajun sounding rocket from Esrange; first European orbital launch site when orbital pad opens | 1957-10-04as of [1]Sputnik 1 — first artificial Earth satellite ever launched |
| Regulatory regime | FAA-AST Launch Site Operator License (vertical + horizontal) | Swedish Space Act (1982:963) + Swedish National Space Agency; EU/EASA airspace coordination | Roscosmos (lease through 2050) / Kazakhstan KazCosmos co-oversight under 1994 lease agreement |
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