#163 | Spaceports | Ketil Olsen, Andøya Space
From Space Business Podcast by spacebusiness
February 4, 2026 · 43 min · Episode 166
About this episode
The episode features Ketil Olsen discussing the strategic importance and history of Andøya Space as a launch center in Northern Norway.
The most beautiful launchsite in the world – that is my description for this week’s episode. Andøya Space is a space launch center in Northern Norway. It is kind of what you would imagine if Disney’s Frozen had a rocket launch site. Jokes aside, it is a serious strategic asset that has launched rockets since 1962 and now has German launch company Isar Aerospace as an orbital launch customer. My guest to talk about all this is Andøya Space’s CEO, former Vice Admiral Ketil Olsen. Enjoy! 🕰️ Timestamps: 0:00 Podcast Intro 00:41 Intro to Andøya Space03:12 Historical Background04:56 Location aspects10:45 Transition to Orbital Launches15:01 Commercial Aspects18:18 Infrastructure21:25 Regulations23:51 Liability considerations25:34 Technology Safeguard Agreement with the U.S.27:08 Future Plans31:45 Building a Space Ecosystem33:58 Visiting Andøya Space40:36 Closing remarks 🔗 Andøya Space 🏠Website : https://andoyaspace.no/ 🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-business-podcast/ 🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast 🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn…
People in this episode
Host: Raphael Roettgen
Guest: Ketil Olsen
Topics covered
- spaceports
- launch centers
- commercial space
- space economy
- technology
Keywords
- spaceports
- Andøya Space
- Ketil Olsen
- Isar Aerospace
- rocket launches
- Northern Norway
- space economy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Andøya Space, Isar Aerospace
Places: Northern Norway, Andøya Space
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