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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 × | Starbase Boca Chica 🇺🇸 United States Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | ISC Kosmotras (defunct) / Russian Strategic Rocket Forces | Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) | SpaceX |
| Ownership | Military | State Enterprise | Private |
| Region | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Launch pads | — | 1 orbital pad (under development; multiple sounding rocket launch rails)as of [1] ↑ Most pads | 1 (Orbital Launch Mount A); second pad under constructionas of [1] ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 0 | 8–12 suborbitalas of [1]Orbital capacity ~100 kg planned for 2027; SSC orbital pad construction ongoing | 6–8 IFTs (2025 rate target)as of [2]IFT-1 through IFT-7 conducted 2023–2025; production cadence increasing ↑ Most active |
| Max payload (LEO) | — | suborbital only (historical); ~100 kg to SSO planned 2027as of [1] ↑ Highest capacity | 100,000+ kg to LEO (Starship target, fully reusable)as of [1]150,000 kg expendable; fully reusable figure TBC pending HLS missions |
| First operational launch | 1999 | 1966-11-19as of [1]First Nike-Cajun sounding rocket from Esrange; first European orbital launch site when orbital pad opens | 2023-04-20as of [1]Starship IFT-1 — first integrated flight test; vehicle lost at stage separation |
| Regulatory regime | Russian Ministry of Defence + Roscosmos; commercial operations ceased after Russia-Ukraine cooperation collapse 2014/2022 | Swedish Space Act (1982:963) + Swedish National Space Agency; EU/EASA airspace coordination | FAA-AST Part 450 vehicle operator license + site-specific Environmental Assessment / PEA |
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