Finnish-American astronaut sees major potential in Finland’s space economy
Finnish-born US astronaut Tim Kopra has highlighted Finland’s significant role in the growing space economy, particularly in satellite technology and quantum research, during his first visit to Tampere, Yle reports.
Kopra, who works for Voyager Technologies—the company building the commercial Starlab space station to replace the International Space Station (ISS)—praised Finland’s expertise in satellite positioning and sensor technology. “Satellite technology is impressive, but especially the sensors, which are the very reason satellites exist,” he said at Tampere University.
He emphasised Finland’s agility in decision-making as a competitive advantage. “Finnish leaders know each other and can make decisions extremely quickly. This isn’t always the case in other countries,” Kopra noted, adding that Finland’s quantum research will be “critically important” in the future.
Voyager Technologies, in partnership with NASA, plans to launch its first private astronaut mission, VOYG-1, as early as 2028. Kopra expressed hope that a Finnish astronaut could join a future mission: “I’d like to see a Finnish astronaut fly on our VOYG1 mission.”
Pirkanmaa region a global hub for satellite tech
Heini Kuusniemi, professor of wireless systems at Tampere University, underscored the region’s decades-long leadership in satellite navigation. “Pirkanmaa has been a centre for satellite positioning not just in Finland but globally,” she said, citing strengths in telecommunications, microelectronics, and data analytics—areas where Nokia-originated expertise remains world-class.
The space economy is projected to grow by billions in the coming decade, driven by demand for satellite electronics, applications, and services. Kuusniemi noted that tens of thousands of new satellites will require Finnish expertise, while everyday technologies—from GPS navigation to banking systems—rely on space infrastructure.
Tampere University recently established a multidisciplinary space research group to foster collaboration between students, researchers, and businesses. Meanwhile, NASA’s Ignition initiative, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028 and establish permanent lunar habitats by 2030, will depend on international partnerships. “Finding top talent in countries like Finland and integrating them into these programs is absolutely critical,” Kopra said.
Finnish space companies have already visited NASA’s Houston headquarters to explore cooperation opportunities, with Kopra’s visit to Tampere—part of the Spaceconomy project’s Launch Into Space networking event—further strengthening ties.