It’s fair to say that building an orbital launch facility is not your everyday project. New launch pads, fuel depots, storage rooms, electricity and water supply, ground and flight safety systems, security, and much more. Now, the SSC Space team has reached another key milestone at Esrange Space Center with the establishment of a new Orbital Launch Control Center (OLCC).
While the first orbital launch campaigns are still ahead, the control room from which they will be managed is already complete – carefully designed, fully equipped, and ready to support future missions. From this purpose-built environment, SSC Space will support the next generation of orbital launch operations – together with our launch vehicle partners and satellite customers.
“It’s always a challenge to work on a project that interfaces so many different systems and aspects of an orbital launch. It involves a wide range of people across our own organization as well as our launch vehicle partners, all learning from each other in the process,” says Leo Helmersson Hobbs, Spaceport Engineer and Project Manager for the OLCC establishment.
Built on collaboration and experience
From the outset, operational experts from both SSC Space and launch partner organizations have been involved in designing the facility – from layout and workflows to system integration.
“Based on the long experience of our own Network Management Center operators, we have been able to make informed decisions in the design of this OLCC facility. And we continue to deepen the collaboration with our launch vehicle partners, adapting our facilities and infrastructure to their needs,” says Leo Helmersson Hobbs.
Today, the core systems owned and operated by SSC Space are installed and operational. This has enabled early integration and testing of other ground systems, while also providing the company’s launch partners with a structured and professional environment to connect, verify, and prepare their own systems for future launches.
Ready for the next chapter
With the Orbital Launch Control Center now in place, SSC Space takes another important step towards enabling orbital launch services at Esrange Space Center. The countdown may still be some way off, but the foundation for what comes next is already firmly set – as a vital part of the future of European spaceflight.
“This is the milestone of one project among many others required to establish a spaceport with orbital launch capability. But we’re one step closer to the first launch,” ends Leo Helmersson Hobbs.
Read more at https://sscspace.com/services/satellite-launch-and-rocket-test-services/
Images note: Information shown on the screens is for illustrative purposes only.
