This week, 12 and 13 November, Oslo became the center of the space industry as Spaceport Norway 2024: XPLORATION brought together 370 attendees from across the globe. Featuring over 60 speakers and a program that spanned topics from strategy and critical infrastructure for the arctics in space, via planetary science, space medicine and life support systems, to human spaceflight. The feedback during and after the event has been extremely positive and encouraging for future ambitions.
The event opened with a keynote by State Secretary Tomas Norvoll, who highlighted Norway's growing ambitions in space. Following his speech, Norvoll engaged in a lively Q&A session with two of the 100 students attending the event, answering their questions about the future of space jobs in Norway and sharing insights into how the Norwegian government plans to support and expand the space sector.
The opening day also featured an inspiring talk by Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, who laid out ESA’s 2040 strategy for space exploration. ESA ’ s vision for the future shaped the agenda for the two days, sparking conversations about how Europe—and Norway—can remain at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.
Regarded as the premium arena for space business in the Nordics, Spaceport Norway 2024 delivered an engaging and diverse program that reflected the breadth and ambition of the space sector. Participants included representatives from major organizations such as NASA, ESA, NOSA, and leading Norwegian companies like Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, EIDEL, Andøya Space, and KSAT, creating an unparalleled platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The Oslo Event Hub provided the perfect venue for the conference. Its modern facilities, central location, and professional staff created a welcoming atmosphere that facilitated meaningful discussions and connections.
A fantastic platform, devoted this year to Exploration, for discussing the future of commercial spaceflight, scientific relevance in exploration, sustainability, and partnerships across Europe. It was truly energizing to see how Norway is positioning itself as a current and future player in the space industry, providing unique opportunities for innovation, technology development and benefits on Earth. Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration
This year, Spaceport Norway introduced an exciting new partnership with NPG (Norwegian Promotion Group). The NPG team brought their expertise to the EXPO-part of the event, transforming it into a visually stunning and highly engaging experience. By elevating the quality and creating a seamless flow for exhibitors and visitors, NPG enhanced the overall impact of the exhibition.
This partnership marks the first milestone in what promises to be a long and fruitful collaboration, as we continue to develop and improve the Spaceport Norway experience in the years to come.
The flawless execution of Spaceport Norway 2024 was made possible by the exceptional work of Holi, the event’s long-time technical production partner. Holi’s meticulous planning and ability to manage the diverse needs of the program ensured that every moment—from keynotes to interactive panels—was executed seamlessly over two action-packed days.
This year’s event placed a significant emphasis on fostering future talent. Thanks to the support of sponsors, 100 students from seven universities participated in the conference. These aspiring space professionals showcased ambitious projects, demonstrating the creativity and innovation that will drive the industry forward.
The students also launched NORSTEC – The Norwegian Space Technology Collective – a new national space organization dedicated to uniting and empowering students passionate about space. This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for Norway’s space sector and its future workforce. We will continue to support students going forward and work closely with NORSTEC, we believe this is extremely valuable for young talents and the industry.
The success of Spaceport Norway 2024 would not have been possible without the unwavering support of its sponsors: NOSA, LIAA, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), KSAT, Andøya Space, EIDEL, IDEAS, Space Norway, EmLogic, INVENTAS, and ISAR Aerospace. Thank you!
We would also like to mention our special partner this year, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). Latvia’s growing ambition as a space nation brought valuable perspectives to the conference, and this partnership opens the door to exciting new opportunities for collaboration between Norwegian and Latvian organizations. This is a new kind of partnership for Spaceport Norway, that might lead to new and bigger things.
Beyond the engaging presentations and discussions, many new relationships were established, laying the groundwork for future collaborations that could shape the space industry for years to come. The event once again demonstrated its unique ability to unite stakeholders from across the industry—from students and researchers to policymakers and business leaders.
The next chapter in the Spaceport Norway story was unveiled during the closing moments of this year’s event with the announcement of Spaceport Norway 2025: Andøya Satellite Summit, scheduled for 25–28 August 2025 at Andøya. This unique summit promises to offer an extraordinary experience, focused on the critical parts of the space ecosystem: access to space and deploying satellites and payloads to orbit.
As home to Andøya Spaceport, a cutting-edge launch facility that now is ready for the first launch to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Andøya is the perfect setting for this exciting event. With the Norwegian Space Agency, Innovation Norway, and Andøya Spaceport as its initial partners, the summit will bring together leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the globe, that are looking to launch valuable payloads to orbit from Norway.
Stay tuned for updates! A dedicated mailing list will soon be available for those interested in learning more and securing their chance to be part of this landmark event.
Selected sponsors will also be invited at a later stage to help make this a truly exceptional gathering for the space industry.
Mark your calendars—Spaceport Norway 2025: Andøya Satellite Summit is set to be an unforgettable experience for the lucky ones who attend! For more information, keep an eye on spaceport-norway.com.
For more photos from Spaceport Norway 2024: XPLORATION, check out our gallery:
