SaxaVord Spaceport Receives First-Ever UK License for Vertical Rocket Launches

Launches from the Shetland Islands site set to begin in 2024, marking a significant boost for the £17.5 billion UK space industry.

SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands has been granted the first-ever UK license for vertical rocket launches, making it the first fully-licensed spaceport in Western Europe able to launch vertically into orbit.
Launches from the spaceport, which is located on the island of Unst, are set to begin as early as August 2024, with up to 30 launches a year permitted.
Several companies, including German rocket firm Hylmpulse, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Lockheed Martin/ABL Space Systems, and Edinburgh-based Skyrora, are planning to use the site for their launches.
The spaceport, a former RAF base, was bought 15 years ago by Frank and Debbie Strang, who initially planned to turn it into an eco-tourism attraction.
The UK space industry, which is worth an estimated £17.5 billion and employs almost 50,000 people across 2,200 companies, is expected to benefit significantly from the establishment of the spaceport.