Shetland Islands Spaceport Prepares for Historic First Launch
Final Licences Expected Soon
SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands is set to become the first site in the UK to host a vertical orbital launch. Scott Hammond, Deputy Chief Executive and Operations Director, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow on 23rd July that they anticipate receiving the final necessary licences from UK regulators by September. This will enable Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA ONE rocket to undertake its inaugural launch.
Preparations Underway for Orbital Launch
The spaceport, located on Unst, obtained its spaceport licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in December 2023. This was followed by a range licence in March. The final airspace access licence is expected in September, with a separate launch licence for RFA to be issued by the CAA.
RFA conducted a static-fire test at the site in May, firing four of the nine engines in the rocket’s first stage. Preparations are ongoing for further tests to fire five, and eventually all nine, engines. The second stage of the rocket is due to arrive this week, followed by the third stage and satellite payloads. “Everything is gearing up very much for the next steps in our journey to space,” said Hammond.
Infrastructure and Future Plans
The SaxaVord Spaceport facilities are nearly complete, with only minor adjustments needed for the launch stool. The official launch date is tentatively set for the third quarter, though some officials suggest it may occur later in the autumn. Hammond stressed the importance of managing expectations, highlighting the iterative nature of test flights. “Sometimes I worry that the politicians want to see success straight away and, if not, they lose interest,” he remarked.
The journey to establish the spaceport has involved years of work and negotiations with various officials. Despite setbacks, including a failed £170 million debt facility, the UK government provided £10 million earlier this year for development. SaxaVord aims to eventually host up to 30 launches a year, although it will take time to reach this capacity.
Looking Ahead
Among SaxaVord’s future customers is Lockheed Martin, which plans to conduct its “UK Pathfinder” launch using an RS1 rocket from ABL Space Systems. However, these plans are currently uncertain following an engine test fire that caused irreparable damage to ABL’s second RS1 rocket on 19th July. Hammond met with Lockheed Martin to discuss the situation and is awaiting the results of their investigation before proceeding.
