SvalRak's location at the 79th parallel north makes it well-suited for launching rockets to investigate Earth's magnetic field.

[6] The first proper launch was an Indian Rohini RH-300 MkII[7] sounding rocket purchased from ISRO and christened Isbjørn 1 (Polar Bear 1).

[6] It was followed by two Black Brant rockets for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration which reached an altitude of 500 kilometers (310 mi).

[9] SvalRak is the world's northernmost rocket launch site, and is located at the 79th parallel north.

[3] It is also used for studying the Magnetopause and aurora borealis, for which Ny-Ålesund is the most convenient location because of its ease of access.