Tag: SaxaVord
-
UK domestic launch milestone as RFA ONE rocket arrives in Scotland
German aerospace company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has achieved a significant milestone in its quest to conduct the UK’s first orbital launch, delivering both the first and second stages of its RFA ONE rocket to SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland’s Shetland Islands. The arrival of the stages marks a key step forward following a setback in…
-
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…
-
Skyrora weighs options on the path to the UK’s first vertical launch
Edinburgh-based Skyrora was granted its Spaceflight Operator Licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on August 5 — the first vertical launch license awarded to a British company to launch from the UK. NSF spoke with Skyrora’s Head of Business, Derek Harris, to discuss the upcoming launch of its Skylark L suborbital vehicle and…
-
UK Regulator Grants First Vertical Launch License to Scottish Rocket Firm Skyrora
After nearly a three-year wait, Scottish space company Skyrora has secured the United Kingdom’s first vertical launch license for a domestically based rocket firm, paving the way for suborbital missions from the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands. The approval, dated July 24 but announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Aug. 5, marks…
-
RFA and SaxaVord target UK’s first vertical orbital launch
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is determined to debut its RFA One rocket by the end of this year. Applying industrialization techniques to building low-cost, high-performance rockets, the flight could become the first vertical orbital launch from UK soil. Progress on two further pads is underway at the SaxaVord spaceport, as the two organizations count down…
-
Isar Aerospace completes static fires of Spectrum rocket ahead of first European launch
Isar Aerospace has announced the completion of static fires on both stage one and stage two of its new Spectrum rocket. The company now says the only thing standing between them and a launch is approval and licensing from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). On February 14, 2025, nine of the company’s Aquila engines,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Orbex breaks ground on Sutherland Spaceport as UK prepares to enter domestic launch market
United Kingdom (UK) based spaceflight company Orbex has begun construction at the Sutherland Spaceport in Scotland. Set to host launches of Orbex’s Prime rocket, Sutherland is the UK mainland’s first vertical launch site. With another vertical-launch site at SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetlands, and Spaceport Cornwall’s horizontal-launch options, the UK is finally ramping up its…