A husband-and-wife team have won their bid to open the first spaceport for vertical rocket launches in the UK.
Up to 30 rockets will be launched each year from SaxaVord Spacesport on a former RAF base at the northern-most point of the Shetland Islands after it was granted the licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
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The spaceport is licensed from 2024 and caters for companies looking to launch satellites into polar, sun-synchronous orbits. So far, just under £30 million has been spent on developing the spaceport, which includes three launch pads and a hangar for assembling rockets.
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Tim Johnson, director of space regulation at the CAA, said: “Granting SaxaVord their licence is an era-defining moment for the UK space sector. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for UK space as rockets may soon launch satellites into orbit from Scotland.
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While Cornwall Spaceport became the UK’s first licensed spaceport, SaxaVord’s licence allows it to host vertical launches rather than horizontal launches of rockets carried by aircraft.
I don’t know how they’re going to launch 30 rockets on the one day a year without wind up there
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Up to 30 rockets will be launched each year from SaxaVord Spacesport on a former RAF base at the northern-most point of the Shetland Islands after it was granted the licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Owned by husband and wife Frank and Debbie Strang, it will be on a former RAF base located on a remote peninsula on Unst, and could be joined by a visitor centre and hotel under the pair’s plan.
Mr Strang said the award of the licence is “historic”, adding: “Our team is very proud that the Government has entrusted us with operating a complex, multi-disciplinary and multi-launch spaceport, and we all take this responsibility very seriously.
UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The United Kingdom’s space industry is growing, with SaxaVord set for lift-off to become this country’s first vertical spaceport.
“Today’s historic announcement will boost Shetland’s economy and put the United Kingdom at the forefront of spaceflight innovation.”
“As the UK’s first licensed vertical spaceport, SaxaVord and Scotland can soon be a gateway to space, deploying cutting-edge small satellites into orbit for international and domestic customers alike.”
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