Boost for UK space ambitions as Shetland’s SaxaVord spaceport gets the green light
SaxaVord, on the North Coast of the Shetland Islands, has become the UK’s first licensed vertical launch 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.
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