SaxaVord UK Spaceport, Scotland
SaxaVord UK Spaceport, Scotland
SaxaVord UK Spaceport: The UK’s First Fully Licensed Vertical Launch Site
SaxaVord UK Spaceport, formerly known as Shetland Space Centre, is a UK spaceport located on the Lamba Ness peninsula on Unst, the northernmost inhabited Shetland Island off the coast of Scotland. The site is close to the RAF Saxa Vord radar station and the settlement of Skaw.
A report from the UK Space Agency identified SaxaVord as an ideal location for launching satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits, offering the highest payload potential of any UK launch site.
Key Developments and Partnerships
- Lockheed Martin initially considered using the spaceport for its UK Pathfinder satellite launch program, employing the RS1 launch vehicle from ABL Space Systems, a US company developing 27m tall rockets with a 1,000 kg payload capacity.
- HyImpulse Technologies, a German rocket manufacturer, planned engine and suborbital testing by late 2021, with orbital launches originally aimed for 2023.
- Skyrora signed a decade-long multi-launch agreement in October 2021, with initial launches expected in 2022.
- Spaceport Infrastructure and Licensing.
Plans submitted to the Shetland Islands Council in January 2021 proposed three rocket launch pads, along with satellite tracking, rocket hangars, and integration facilities on the Lamba Ness peninsula. Additional infrastructure includes a Range Control Centre at the former RAF SaxaVord site, fuel storage at Ordale Airport in Baltasound, and improved approach roads to the launch site.
Challenges and Historic Preservation Concerns: In March 2021, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) initially blocked the development due to its potential impact on the Chain Home radar station at Skaw. However, in January 2022, HES withdrew its objection, acknowledging the project’s economic benefits for Unst.
Recent Milestones
- January 2023: Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) signed an exclusive multi-year agreement for Launch Pad Fredo, starting core-stage testing in mid-2023 with a potential late 2023 launch.
- May 2023: CEO Frank Strang announced a 137 million USD debt financing package during a UK Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee hearing, though the funding source remained undisclosed.
- July 28, 2023: The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted HyImpulse permission to launch its SR75 suborbital rocket from SaxaVord between December 2023 and November 2024. However, HyImpulse later moved the maiden flight to Koonibba Test Range, Australia, citing infrastructure delays.
- December 17, 2023: The CAA officially licensed SaxaVord, making it the first fully licensed vertical spaceport in Western Europe, with authorization for up to 30 launches per year.
- April 2024: SaxaVord secured a range license from the CAA, allowing them to control airspace and sea routes for orbital launches.
- May 2024: Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA One conducted an engine hotfire test at SaxaVord, marking another step toward orbital launch capability.
Conclusion
SaxaVord UK Spaceport is emerging as a pivotal launch site for European space ambitions, with strong industry partnerships and growing infrastructure. As development progresses, it is poised to become a significant hub for commercial satellite launches, supporting both UK and international space missions.