UK Granted Licence for Europe's First Vertical Rocket Launch

Rocket Factory Augsburg secures approval to launch from Shetland's SaxaVord spaceport, marking a milestone for European space innovation.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued the first vertical spaceflight operator licence in Europe to Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German company.
The launch will take place at the SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland island of Unst, a repurposed RAF base and the UK's first licensed vertical launch site.
RFA's inaugural test flight, planned for later in 2025, will deploy small satellites and scientific equipment into a sun-synchronous orbit.
This marks a major step for Europe's independent space exploration, as no orbital launch has ever been conducted from European soil before.
The licence allows up to 10 launches per year, with safety measures including airspace closures and population safeguards along the rocket's trajectory.