Week 46, 2025 - German competition, German opportunities
A German competitor to the Danish offshore spaceport company, EuroSpaceport has entered the scene. Meanwhile, the Danish space sector heads to Bremen.
Overview
Top stories
Competitor to Danish Offshore Spaceport Emerges as European Space Race on Launch Intensifies
The Danish Space Sector Heads to Bremen for Space Tech Expo
Cobham Satcom to be Featured in Hollywood Sci-fi Movie
News briefs
Report Highlights Opportunities in Germany for Danish Space Sector
Aalborg University Secures DKK 7.2 Million for Satellite-Based Drought Monitoring Project
CenSec Seminar Highlights Danish Space Sector’s Role in Defense and Funding Opportunities
ESA BIC Denmark Launches Advisory Board to Boost Space Startups
Quadsat Partners with Saudi Net Link for RF Services
Space Denmark Launches Job Site, Seeks Beta Testers
New jobs, next week, and more (for paid subscribers)
Top stories
Competitor to Danish Offshore Spaceport Emerges as European Space Race on Launch Intensifies
European Spaceflight reports that German space technology company OHB has established a new subsidiary called “European Spaceport Company” that is intended to be based in Bremen and create a European offshore spaceport. The German government has already provided 2.9 million EUR in funding for a joint project by OHB and others to establish a floating launch facility off the coast of Germany.
Denmark has its own company seeking to create an offshore spaceport with a name quite similar to OHB’s new venture: EuroSpaceport. Danish Space News reached out to the CEO of EuroSpaceport, Nicolas Kristoffersen, to learn how he views the new German competition.
How does it position EuroSpaceport that the German government is backing your competitor? Do you receive government support?
“That others receive government support naturally makes it more difficult for EuroSpaceport to compete. We are part of a project supported by the European Space Agency, which has thereby indicated that our activities are both feasible and relevant to Europe’s space future, and that there is confidence that our team and partners can solve the task. The financial support to us comes from the Danish contribution to ESA’s Boost program. However, the amount is significantly less than what is given to spaceports in Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden. Naturally, we would like to see more support given to ambitious Danish space companies, so that we do not have to compete on unequal terms.”
Do you even see yourselves as being in competition with the European Spaceport Company? Or is there enough space in the North Sea and enough launch demand for two companies?
“Projects that aim to send satellites into orbit from the North Sea or other locations at sea are, in principle, competitors to our activities. However, there is no shortage of space in the North Sea. At the same time, demand is rising significantly, so it is quite conceivable that both companies could offer activities in the North Sea or from other sea areas. Our partners are large Danish offshore companies that are accustomed to carrying out safe operations at sea in a flexible manner and at a competitive price, so we are not concerned about fair competition. The biggest challenge lies in the regulatory area. If Denmark is slower than other countries in approving activities, it could have a significant impact on the chances that launches will take place from Danish-controlled areas and be carried out by a Danish company. Our model is based on modularity and agility. Faster approvals give us better chances of attracting customers and investments.”
Will it be a challenge for you that there are now two companies with such similar-sounding names, both working on spaceports in the North Sea?
“We don’t think so. We have established ourselves in the European space industry over 5 years. Our partners and potential customers know us as EuroSpaceport. Our plans for a spaceport in the North Sea go under the name Spaceport North Sea and are based in Esbjerg. Furthermore, we use www.spaceport.eu as our domain name.”
The European Spaceport Company is to have its base in Bremen. You are going to Bremen next week for the Space Tech Expo and participating in a panel debate on European spaceports. Do you think the news about the European Spaceport Company will change what you are going to discuss in Bremen?
“We are participating in the debate to encourage thinking flexibly, modularly, agilely, and at the same time long-term in Europe. Spaceports on other continents are not necessarily far from major cities and industrial facilities. The world’s most famous spaceport, Kennedy Space Center, is only 25 km from Titusville, which has 50,000 inhabitants. At the same time, offshore platforms are used for both launches and landings on other continents. Launches from, for example, the North Sea can thus take place safely and even much closer to industrial facilities than most other European spaceports. Therefore, we believe that our approach is relevant and provides new opportunities for Europe. We are participating in the debate to emphasize that we can benefit greatly from several different types of spaceports at a time when Europe needs to develop technologies quickly. The news of competition from Germany will probably add more weight to our arguments.”
The Danish Space Sector Heads to Bremen for Space Tech Expo
All the major Danish space companies seem to be headed to Space Tech Expo next week from November 18-20. So far, these are the companies that I have seen announce their participation:
Space Denmark along with Invest in Denmark and Innovation Centre Denmark, Munich will deliver the official Danish meeting program. You can read more about the program here.
Cobham Satcom to be Featured in Hollywood Sci-fi Movie
Danish provider of satellite communications solutions, Cobham Satcom, signed an agreement on November 11th to become corporate brand sponsor and to feature its tactical antenna system in the upcoming sci-fi space action thriller Helios. The agreement was signed with two entertainment companies Centerboro Productions and All in Films.
According to the press release, Cobham Satcom’s antenna system will be featured “prominently” and enable “the main heroine, a NASA astronaut-scientist, to save the Earth.” Cobham Satcom’s CEO, Christophe Duret, says that they are proud to “showcase the latest innovations in satellite communications, including our advanced TACTICAL TRACKER antenna system.”
Set in 2030, the action-thriller film Helios tells the story of a spaceship and its crew during their urgent mission to the International Space Station (ISS). As a massive solar flare from an incoming cataclysmic solar storm hits the station and the Earth, it is up to astronomer and former NASA Astronaut Jess Denver and Air Force Colonel Sam Adler to team up and save humanity.
Cobham Satcom is not the only space company to become corporate brand sponsor for the movie; United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Aerospacelab, Integrasys and Spacekids Global will be featured as well. Helios is currently in pre-production according to IMDB.
News briefs
Report Highlights Opportunities in Germany for Danish Space Sector
Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK) Munich released a report called “Over the Border, Into Orbit: Germany’s NewSpace Rise” on November 12, 2025, outlining how Germany’s industrial and research ecosystem positions Europe for space sovereignty while identifying Denmark as a key collaborator. With cutting-edge expertise in photonics, AI, robotics, and nanosatellites, Denmark’s research and innovation environment is uniquely positioned to complement Germany’s industrial muscle. Through ICDK Munich, Danish companies and researchers can plug directly into Bavaria’s thriving ecosystem, including ESA’s Business Incubation Centre and TUM Venture Labs. Source.
Aalborg University Secures DKK 7.2 Million for Satellite-Based Drought Monitoring Project
Aalborg University Associate Professor Maike Schumacher has received a DKK 7,199,795 grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark (Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond) to lead the DREAM project, which integrates satellite observations with hydrological models for drought early warning in Denmark and the Rhine River basin. The project, launched in collaboration with Michael Butts from the Danish Meteorological Institute, addresses drought impacts on water management, agriculture, and ecosystems amid climate change. Researchers will combine three methods: hydrological models to simulate water movement, hybrid approaches fusing satellite data with models, and data-driven techniques to estimate uncertainties. Source.
CenSec Seminar Highlights Danish Space Sector’s Role in Defense and Funding Opportunities
CenSec, Denmark’s national innovation cluster for defense, space, and security, gathered stakeholders in the Danish space sector this week for a seminar about the space industry’s role and opportunities in the defense sector. The gathering featured presentations from the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) and Jakob Clod Asmund of the Royal Danish Defence College. The presentations underscored the dependence by The Danish Armed Forces on, for example, access to data from space and other space-based technologies. The Danish Armed Forces, therefore, regard the Danish space sector as an important collaborative partner in the development of Danish-produced space solutions. DALO highlighted the co-financing pool as an opportunity to obtain support for development projects, while the Royal Danish Defense College discussed the visions for a Danish “Space Operations Centre”. Nicolai Iversen from Spaceline spoke about their stratospheric satellites and how these systems can be used, for example, for surveillance, while Ulrik Wichmann Martinussen from Quadsat described how the company has moved into the defence and security sector, which now plays an important role for the business. Source.
ESA BIC Denmark Launches Advisory Board to Boost Space Startups
ESA BIC Denmark held the inaugural meeting of its new advisory board, advancing efforts to expand support for space technology companies. The board, established earlier this year, convened for the first time to provide guidance on program development and services amid Denmark’s growing national emphasis on space activities. Members will offer strategic input to scale operations and assist more startups entering the Danish space economy. Appointed members include Klaus Bruun Gunnestrup, Innovation Officer at Innovationsfonden; Kim Plauborg, Director of Terma Group Space Systems; Karina Bergstrøm Larsen, board member and co-founder of Satcom1; Niels Vejrup Carlsen, investor and founder of Final Frontier; and Michael Lumholt, founder of Lumholt Space Technologies. Source.
Quadsat Partners with Saudi Net Link for RF Services
Quadsat, a Danish provider of spectrum intelligence and RF geolocation solutions, partnered with Saudi Net Link on 13 November 2025 to extend mobile RF test, calibration, and location services to satellite communications operators and RF technology manufacturers. The partnership integrates Saudi Net Link into Quadsat’s Global Service Partner Network, launched last year to deliver services worldwide through local partners. Saudi Net Link specializes in VSAT managed services and RF integration. It now offers Quadsat’s platform-agnostic technology for satellite communications, radar systems, and electronic warfare across the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Quadsat’s system detects and locates RF signals, interference, and jamming while enabling in-situ testing and calibration to optimize satcom networks. The collaboration increases capacity in these regions and builds on Quadsat’s existing coverage in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Source.
Space Denmark Launches Job Site, Seeks Beta Testers
Space Denmark has launched a job site- spacedenmark.dk/jobs/ - where people can look for jobs in the Danish space industry. The site is still in beta testing and Space Denmark’s founder, Søren Gram Riisgaard is looking for beta testers. If you’re interested, you can reach him via his email: sgr@spacedenmark.dk.
New jobs, next week, and more (for paid subscribers)
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