Skyrora Secures Historic Launch License as UK Eyes Sovereign Space Capabilities
The race for the first commercial rocket launch from UK soil has seen a significant advancement with Skyrora, a Glasgow-based aerospace company, receiving the first vertical launch license granted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to a domestic company. This achievement is pivotal in the UK's ambition to establish a sovereign launch infrastructure for small satellites.
Skyrora's license enables the company to launch its Skylark L suborbital rocket from the Saxavord Spaceport located on the Shetland Islands. Approved for up to 16 missions annually, the eleven-meter Skylark L is engineered for test flights that will reach altitudes of 120 to 130 kilometers, crossing the Kármán line, which defines the edge of space. These missions aim to test technologies and gather insights into regulatory processes, ultimately paving the way for Skyrora's larger rocket, the Skyrora-XL, designed to transport satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
However, despite the licensing milestone, immediate launches are unlikely, as Saxavord Spaceport is undergoing renovations, delaying operations until at least early 2026. This setback highlights the challenges facing the UK's space strategy, following the failed horizontal launch attempt by Virgin Orbit in 2022.
Skyrora is not alone in its efforts on the Shetlands; German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) also holds a launch license for the site, although it recently faced a critical setback when a rocket stage exploded during testing. Skyrora's CEO, Volodymyr Levykin, emphasized the necessity of the new license, asserting the importance of the UK developing its own launch capabilities.
In the event of further delays, Skyrora is considering transferring its UK license to Australia, recalling the historical context of British rocket launches, as the last UK rocket to successfully place a satellite in orbit, the Black Arrow, was launched from Woomera, Australia, in 1971.
This development marks a significant, albeit delayed, step forward for the UK's burgeoning space industry.
