[ilove_banh_mi]

>600 rockets have been launched from the Esrange Space Center near Kiruna, Sweden since 1966.

https://sscspace.com/esrange/

[qw]

The same location (Andøya, Norway) has also launched over 1,200 sounding and sub-orbital rockets of various configurations since 1962.

As others have explained, the news here is a rocket reaching orbit

[solarexplorer]

There is also the first object in space. But this was arguably no commercial launch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MW_18014

[oskarkk]

The article talks about the first orbital rocket to be launched from Europe. The title is not very precise, but orbital rockets are the only ones that matter anyway.

[noselasd]

Isn't that owned by the Swedish government ?

[ilove_banh_mi]

the space center no, and in general not the rockets

[oskarkk]

https://sscspace.com/esrange/

> Esrange, owned and operated by Swedish Space Corporation (...)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Space_Corporation

> Company type: Government-owned

So, Esrange is government-owned, but the company that makes the rocket is private.