Tag: Orbex
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UK Announces £500 Million Space Investment Package With £20 Million for Scottish Spaceports
The United Kingdom has unveiled a £500 million spending package aimed at supporting the country’s space sector, including £20 million allocated to accelerate the development of spaceport infrastructure in Scotland. The funding plan was announced on March 4 during the Space-Comm Expo 2026 by Liz Lloyd, the UK’s Minister for the Digital Economy. The broader…
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Rocket Factory Augsburg Delivers RFA ONE Stages to SaxaVord Ahead of Planned Test Flight
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has delivered the first and second stages of its RFA ONE launch vehicle to SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland as the company prepares for a planned test flight later this year. The German launch provider said the first stage was recently built and tested at its facilities in Augsburg, Germany, before being…
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Skyrora Eyes Orbex Assets Including Scottish Spaceport After Rival’s Financial Troubles
British rocket developer Skyrora said on Thursday it is considering acquiring selected assets from rival Orbex, including a planned spaceport in northern Scotland, after the smaller launch company disclosed financial difficulties. Skyrora, headquartered in Glasgow, said it intends to explore purchasing parts of Orbex’s business, notably the Sutherland Spaceport project on Scotland’s north coast, in…
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Orbex’s Danish Unit to File for Bankruptcy as Operations Wind Down
Orbex’s Danish subsidiary, Orbital Express Launch ApS, is set to file for bankruptcy after closing its facilities on Jan. 20, resulting in the loss of around 90 jobs, according to people familiar with the matter. UK-based small-launch developer Orbex established the Danish business in October 2016. Based in Copenhagen, Orbital Express Launch ApS supported group-wide…
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UK Rocket Builder Orbex in Talks to Sell Business to The Exploration Company
UK-based rocket manufacturer Orbex said it has signed a letter of intent to sell its business to European space logistics startup The Exploration Company, marking a potential consolidation move within Europe’s emerging launch sector. Orbex confirmed on Jan. 21 that negotiations have begun but said all details of the proposed transaction remain confidential. The company…
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Europe’s launch contenders revealed as Themis rolls toward reusability tests
The European Space Agency (ESA) is advancing on its ambitions for future space transportation. This week, the agency has shortlisted five companies in the first stage of its European Launcher Challenge, aimed at igniting competition as well as increasing the availability of launch services in Europe. Meanwhile, the agency’s restartable Prometheus engine has recently completed…
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Rocket Report: SpaceX lands in the Bahamas; ULA tests modified booster
Welcome to Edition 7.32 of the Rocket Report! It’s true that the US space program has always been political. Domestic and global politics have driven nearly all of the US government’s decisions on major space issues, most notably President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to land astronauts on the Moon amid intense Cold War competition with…
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Launch providers step closer to first orbital launch from UK soil
The awarding of the UK’s first commercial vertical launch license in December marked a significant milestone on the path to developing Scotland as a European launch leader. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) plans to conduct its inaugural orbital launch from UK soil this year, with other companies currently awaiting their licenses to extend Europe’s access to…
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Europe’s future in space: Vega cadence to increase, HyImpulse’s hybrid rocket
European companies in the space sector have been developing novel technology to find their unique place in the market, allowing them to thrive and innovate while stepping towards developing their orbital vehicles. Some are supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), such as HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, and Orbex, while other independent private companies, such as…
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RFA static fires at SaxaVord Spaceport as other UK spaceports continue to develop
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), from Augsburg, Germany, appears to have made a significant step toward the first vertical orbital launch attempt from the United Kingdom (UK). On May 16, RFA successfully conducted an unannounced first static fire of the first stage of its RFA ONE rocket. A video showing the test has since been released,…