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Boost for UK space ambitions as Shetland’s SaxaVord spaceport gets the green light

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SaxaVord, on the North Coast of the Shetland Islands, has become the UK’s first licensed vertical launch spaceport.

SaxaVord Spaceport is developing a launch site and ground station at Lamba Ness in Unst, Shetland.
SaxaVord Spaceport is developing a launch site and ground station at Lamba Ness in Unst, Shetland. - SavaVord Spaceport

The licence - granted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority - paves the way for rocket launches on UK soil from 2024 and puts Scotland at the forefront of the European launch market, with Scottish satellites already in space, and home-grown rocket companies breaking new ground.

The licence permits SaxaVord to host up to 30 launches a year, allowing the spaceport to grow as the UK space sector continues to expand. There are already a number of launch operators from around the world currently developing rockets to launch from SaxaVord who are currently at various stages of the assessment process with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Tim Johnson, Director of Space Regulation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, hailed the decision as an “era defining moment” for the UK space sector. “This marks the beginning of a new chapter for UK space as rockets may soon launch satellites into orbit from Scotland, he said.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: “The United Kingdom’s space industry is growing, with SaxaVord set for lift-off to become this country’s first vertical spaceport Today’s historic announcement will boost Shetland’s economy and put the United Kingdom at the forefront of spaceflight innovation.”

This latest licence is the 352nd space activity approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority since becoming the UK’s space regulator in July 2021. The regulator now monitors more than 750 different satellites, has licensed two spaceports, a launch from Cornwall, and the OneWeb constellation which is currently the second biggest satellite constellation in orbit.

The licence also follows last week’s announcement of £3.4 million UK Space Agency funding for HyImpulse UK, a Shetland based launch company to undertake their Hybrid Propulsion Test Programme ahead of the proposed launch of their launch vehicle, named SL1, from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.

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