December 18th 2023.
It's official - the UK's first spaceport for vertical rocket launches is now open in the Shetland Isles! SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst has been given the green light from the Civil Aviation Authority to begin launches as early as next year.
Not only is this the UK's first spaceport, but it is also Western Europe's first fully licensed vertical spaceport. It has the capability to launch up to 30 rockets annually, which will be used to take satellites into space. Amazingly, the site is a former RAF radar station owned by Frank and Debbie Strang for the past 15 years.
Frank is understandably proud of this historic achievement, saying "The award of our spaceport licence is both historic for Shetland, Scotland and the UK and places us firmly at the leading edge of the European and global space economy. Our team is very proud that the Government has entrusted us with operating a complex, multi-disciplinary and multi-launch spaceport and we all take this responsibility very seriously. There is much to do still but this is a fantastic way to end the year and head into Christmas."
Tim Johnson, director of space regulation at the CAA, echoed this sentiment, saying "Granting SaxaVord their license is 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. We are undertaking vital work to make sure the UK’s space activities are safe and sustainable for all."
The space industry in the UK is estimated to be worth £17.5bn and supports about 48,800 jobs at 2,200 firms. Edinburgh-based Skyrora is the first company in the UK aiming to launch from the UK in the coming years. Cornwall Spaceport is also a licensed spaceport, however it launches rockets horizontally.
UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said: ‘I’m over the moon that Scotland now officially has its first spaceport and is home to the first fully licensed vertical launch site in western Europe. Shetland, along with other sites in the country, are set to be at the heart of the UK’s space industry success story for years to come. Scottish satellites are already in space and rocket companies from home and around the world are currently developing rockets to launch from Scotland. This is more good news for Scotland’s thriving space industry and the many people who work in it.’
What an incredible achievement for the UK! SaxaVord Spaceport has marked a major milestone in the space industry, and has finally given the UK a license for vertical rocket launches. We can only imagine what great achievements this will fuel in the future, and are excited to see how far this new era of space exploration will take us.
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