Sweden has launched its first military satellite, called the Gna-3. Weighing 4 kilos, it is meant to safeguard Swedish military communications at all times. According to the Swedish Ministry of Defence it rotates the earth for times a day at a speed of 27,000 kilometres per hour, at an altitude of 500 kilometres above Earth.
The launch was already done in August last year, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. It was kept quiet by authorities until now.
Among the areas that are covered by the Gna-3 are Sweden and the Baltic Sea area. Plans call for two more Swedish military satellite launches, in 2025 and 2027. | © 2025 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter. Featured photo: Vandenberg Air Force/Space Force Base in November 2020 (Press photo: European Space Agency)