A Launchpad for Trust: What the U.S.-Sweden Space Pact Means for American Taxpayers
It is about a whole lot more than Outer Space. It Builds More Trust Between Two Nations
Last week, the U.S. and Sweden officials inked the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA), a legal document that may not dominate headlines. Still, for those who follow space policy or international commerce, the developments behind it are worth examining more closely.
For Americans, this agreement represents a building block in how the United States secures its leadership in space, protects sensitive technologies, and works with allies in a rapidly shifting global space race. At some point, it could also mean many more American jobs in various sectors of the economy here and abroad.
Let’s break it down.
The space sector is heavily regulated—for good reason. American taxpayers invest billions into outer space programs for both defense and commercial purposes. Naturally, we want to ensure we get the most bang for our buck. We also want to ensure that technologies developed in the United States remain under U.S. control, especially when they can impact national security.
America’s long-standing dominance in space technology and services has made it a prime target for adversaries, as well as occasional allies. The Chinese may come to mind when you read or hear that “if you can’t make it, steal it.” Yet, I know of many cases of friendly nations doing the same.
To prevent this, or at least make it more challenging to do so, the U.S. has established a complex legal framework to regulate access to its most advanced equipment, software, and expertise. Do these laws and regulations work? That’s a discussion for another day, but in general, yes, they help preserve technological superiority and national security.
The TSA, signed last week by the U.S. and Sweden, is a special kind of international agreement. In this case, it appears that it will allow American companies to launch rockets or satellites from foreign countries while ensuring that sensitive U.S. technologies involved don’t fall into the wrong hands.
In short, it’s about protecting national security while enabling global commerce. Think of it like lending a friend your high-performance car—but installing safeguards to make sure they don’t copy the engine, tamper with the software, or let someone else drive it.
These agreements are significant when launches involve hardware, software, or data regulated under U.S. export control laws, like the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Both legal regimes exist to prevent unauthorized access, diversion, or proliferation of sensitive technology; therefore, the agreements are critical whenever U.S. export-controlled hardware, software, or know-how is involved in a launch.
TSAs build on decades of defense protocols and statutory authorities. They’re not new, but they are increasingly vital. Do we still need them? They are certainly annoying, and I wish they were not needed, but until a better system is formulated, yes, they are necessary.
And if you’re wondering what happens when these safeguards are violated—having worked on ITAR export compliance audits—I can tell you it’s not pleasant. Depending on the facts, violations can trigger fines, administrative sanctions, or even criminal penalties. Yes, people can go to jail for violating export control laws.
Sweden has been stepping into a more significant role in space. It has developed the Esrange Space Center—the first orbital launch site on the European mainland—located in the Arctic Circle. According to public sources, Esrange, once a launch site for sounding rockets and scientific experiments, is evolving into a NATO-aligned platform for both commercial and military operations.
Sweden and Florida are closely linked in the space sector. Sweden runs its own astronaut, satellite, and research programs, while Florida hosts NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and other key launch sites. Marcus Wandt, a Swedish astronaut, recently flew to the International Space Station from Kennedy. Sweden is also launching satellites from its new Spaceport Esrange, and a fresh U.S.–Sweden deal now lets Sweden import advanced U.S. space technology and use American rockets launched from Swedish soil.
The Swedish Armed Forces have already committed to launching satellites from Esrange. U.S. companies, such as Firefly Aerospace, are expected to follow suit by 2026. Firefly, for example, which has already launched missions from California and right here on the Space Coast in Florida, views Sweden as a strategic alternative—both to ease congestion at U.S. sites and to build resilience against potential disruptions.
The TSA gives companies like Firefly a legal pathway to operate abroad, while ensuring that U.S. laws—and U.S. oversight—travel with the rocket. According to a Firefly press release, the “Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace are moving closer to a historic first satellite launch from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, following a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) that was signed between Sweden and the United States on June 20.”
Stockholm isn’t improvising. Sweden recently adopted its first-ever national defense space strategy. It’s meant to fill emerging NATO needs for secure, high-latitude launch and tracking capabilities. Sweden is:
Acquiring long-range radars capable of detecting threats at over 2,000 kilometers;
Partnering with the Netherlands on next-generation sensors;
Sharing data with U.S. Space Command;
And aligning with U.S. space norms through the Artemis Accords.
In other words, Sweden is building sovereign space capabilities while aligning closely with American rules and strategic interests.
Here’s the big picture: Launchpads are as strategically important today as airstrips were in the 20th century. And agreements like the U.S.-Sweden TSA aren’t just legal boilerplate—they’re infrastructure for trust.
They ensure, among other things, that American businesses can expand globally without compromising national security. They help our allies plug into U.S. legal frameworks. And they show the world that U.S. leadership in space is rooted in values, not just velocity.
No, this agreement isn’t a blank check or a free pass for Sweden and Swedish companies to “see” everything. It’s just one small but pivotal area of a much broader U.S.–Sweden partnership that already spans from advanced space launches to quiet, behind-the-scenes efforts in other parts of the world where these nations share common interests and goals.
If all goes well, the TSA and the work that it could help generate should spur deeper cooperation and fresh transatlantic business opportunities, including on Florida’s Space Coast. In the coming space race, the real front lines won’t just be drawn by rockets but by the rules that govern them, and agreements like this one will set the pace.