The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given a British company its first licence for space launches.
On Tuesday, the licence was granted to Skyrora, a private aerospace company based in Scotland. Skyrora will launch its rockets from the SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland Islands, the northernmost point of the UK.
Under the terms of the licence, Skyrora, which designs and manufactures mobile launch platforms and launch vehicles for small satellites in Scotland, will be able to carry out up to 16 launches per year. The Skylark L suborbital launch vehicle will be used for this purpose, capable of reaching speeds 3.5 times the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of about 500 km and returning to Earth.
There is a possibility that the company will not be able to use the SaxaVord spaceport until 2026, as it is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction. Skyrora told the media that if the delay proves too long, they will apply for a launch licence in Australia. There, the company has the opportunity to launch before the end of 2025.
In January, Germany’s Rocket Factory Augsburg received the first launch operator licence from SaxaVord.
Rob Bishton, head of the CAA, noted that licensing a local company is an important step for British space, which will attract investment and new jobs.
Skyrora CEO Volodymyr Levikin emphasised that obtaining the licence is the result of hard work and the company’s commitment to high safety standards.
Scottish Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray called the event a “huge boost” for the UK space industry and expressed hope for a successful launch from SaxaVord’s Stewart Spaceport.
