Latest news with #RobBishton
Metro
5 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Global space race hots up with UK's 'first rocket launch' and moon reactor plans
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It's all kicking off in the world (or well, no world) of space today, with both the UK and US making massive steps in the space race. In the UK, a Scottish company has received the cosmic equivalent of a space driving license. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given the green light for Skyrora to launch a rocket from a remote Scottish island. If the launch is successful, Skyrora would become the first British company to manufacture and launch a rocket into space from the UK. SaxaVord, a former radar station on Unst in the Shetland Islands, is the country's only space port – the world of tomorrow is today, folks. It would also be the first rocket launch on British soil in 50 years, when Black Arrow, launched from Woomera in 1971, placed a satellite into orbit. Skylark XL can reach an altitude of 500km, piercing a layer of warm air called the thermosphere, where many satellites and spacecraft orbit. It lacks the capabilities to reach low-Earth orbit, however, the goal of most micro launch companies. The rocket is made from 3D-printed parts and is capable of reaching 3.5 times the speed of sound. Skylark XL could be used to conduct cheap microgravity experiments. The Skylark XL product page says the craft is designed to place payloads into polar orbit up to 1,000km in the atmosphere. Scots could be craning their necks up high to see a 12-metre-long suborbital rocket, a Skylark L, tearing through the clouds next year. The end goal is to launch the bulkier Skyrora XL model. The licence, which was granted last month, says Skyrora can launch a rocket into the heavens up to 16 times a year by 2030. Rob Bishton, CEO of CAA, told Metro: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, welcomed the news. He told Metro: 'This demonstrates the growing strength of our domestic launch capabilities, and the thriving commercial space economy we are building across the country. 'With companies like Skyrora, we're positioning Britain as the natural choice for customers seeking reliable, cost-effective access to space from European soil.' Alan Thompson, head of government affairs at Skyrora, told Metro that the launchpad won't be used commercially but will test different space tech. 'As for future launches, two of the three stages of the XL vehicle are complete, and we expect to deliver the first stage soon,' he added. 'We plan to complete integration tests of the XL vehicle next year, dependent on manufacturing timelines, and target a launch in 2027.' As the UK reaches for the stars, the US is thinking bigger – both the US and China are working to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon. The US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to announce fast-tracked plans to achieve this, fearing that if China does so first, they could 'potentially declare a keep-out zone'. The mini reactor will generate 100 kilowatts of electrical power – enough to keep the lights on for about 80 households – and will be ready to launch by 2029, Duffy wrote in a directive according to Politico. More Trending He added: 'To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly.' Nuclear power is the only reliable option for astronauts living on the Moon, where a day is about a month, half spent in scorching sun and the other in frigid darkness. The Moon's South Pole is likely where a nuclear reactor could be set up, where it's sunny 80% more of the time and frozen water hides in craters. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Earth is spinning so fast that today will be shorter – but is time going faster? MORE: Storm Floris causes flight disruption as Jet2 and Easyjet issue updates MORE: Rail passengers warned not to travel north of Newcastle when Storm Floris hits
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
UK grants space launch licence to Scottish firm
Britain has granted its first space launch licence to a home-grown rocket company, paving the way for a Scottish start-up to send satellites into space from the country's first vertical launch spaceport. Skyrora, founded in 2017, would be able to conduct up to 16 launches a year, subject to further approval by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the regulator said on Tuesday. The Scotland-based company would use the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, northern Scotland, which received a key safety licence last year, meaning rockets could be launched from the site in the future. Germany's Rocket Factory Augsburg was the first company to gain a licence to launch from the site earlier this year. 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation,' CAA CEO Rob Bishton said. The space market is forecast to be worth more than $1-trillion (R18.04-trillion) by 2030 as companies around the world plan to deploy thousands of internet-beaming satellites. Britain has been looking to add launch capabilities to its space industry, which employs more than 45,000 people and builds more satellites than anywhere outside the US. But those efforts were dealt a major blow in early 2023 when a horizontal rocket launch from Newquay, southwest England, failed. A successful vertical launch from SaxaVord would revive the industry's prospects. 'Skyrora is proud to be leading efforts that enable launch activity from the UK and we look forward to achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all,' CEO Volodymyr Levykin said. The company needs to meet a number of conditions before any launch, including adequate insurance, a data-sharing deal with the British government and airspace agreements with other countries.
Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Skyrora win first space launch licence
The Scottish company Skyrora has announced big news today as they are awarded the first vertical space launch licence in the UK. The permission from the UK Civil Aviation Authority allows the company which has an office on Princes Street to launch from the SaxaVord Spaceport up to 16 times. The approval process examined key matters such as safety and environmental mitigations, and the ongoing launches will be subject to monitoring by the space regulator. The company must also share its data with the UK Government as part of the licensing arrangement. Rob Bishton, CEO of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' Volodymyr Levykin, CEO Skyrora said: 'Becoming the first UK company to receive its vertical launch operator licence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Skyrora. It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities. 'Skyrora is proud to be leading efforts that enable launch activity from the UK and we look forward to achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, said: 'This launch licence isn't just one giant leap for Skyrora – it's a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK's space sector. Becoming the first British company to manufacture and send a rocket into space from the UK will be a hugely significant moment. 'It's an exciting time for the Scottish space sector – an important industry which is playing a vital role in our Plan for Change, helping economic growth and employing thousands of people in good quality jobs across the country. Glasgow in particular is a city and region with a huge role to play in the space race, with innovation in this field the focus of its £160 million UK Government funded Investment Zone status. This zone, established with local partners, is expected to generate around £300 million of initial private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs in the region.' Like this: Like Related
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
History made as Scottish rocket firm hits 'major milestone'
With this new licence, Skyrora will be permitted up to 16 sub-orbital launches per year from the UK's first licenced vertical launch spaceport, SaxaVord, in the Shetland Islands. With headquarters in Glasgow and their manufacturing facility in Cumbernauld, this marks a 'major milestone' for the UK's emerging space sector, according to Rob Bishton, the chief executive of the CAA. Bishton said: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' With this licence, Skyrora plans to launch and operate their sub-orbital Skylark L vehicle, subject to CAA authorisation. In August of 2018 in Ross-shire, Skyrora successfully conducted the first ever rocket test launch in Scotland by a private firm. Volodymyr Levykin, chief executive of Skyrora, welcomed the news of the new licence, saying: 'Becoming the first UK company to receive its vertical launch operator licence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Skyrora. It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities.' He further added that Skyrora is 'proud to be leading efforts that enable launch activity from the UK and we look forward to achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all'. READ MORE: Scottish company to launch rockets into space 'next year' Skyrora's success marks a pivotal moment in the UK's aerospace history, the firm said. The last time the UK sent a rocket into space was five decades ago in 1971 with the 'Black Arrow' Rocket. To this day, that has been the only orbital launch using a British-built rocket, though the launch itself was conducted in Australia. Skyrora underwent a vetting process in order to be granted the new licence, the CAA said, including safety protocols, international obligations, and environmental impact mitigation. The CAA said it will also continue to play a vital oversight role during the launches, ensuring Skyrora complies with all conditions of the licence. These conditions include adequate insurance, a data-sharing agreement with the UK Government, agreements with the [[spaceport]], and coordination with international airspace authorities. The SaxaVord Spaceport was granted the UK's first vertical launch licence in December 2023, and received its range control licence in April 2024. The chief executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, praised Skyrora. He said: 'Congratulations to Skyrora on becoming the first UK rocket company to receive a launch licence from the Civil Aviation Authority. 'This demonstrates the growing strength of our domestic launch capabilities, and the thriving commercial space economy we are building across the country.' He further added: 'With companies like Skyrora, we're positioning Britain as the natural choice for customers seeking reliable, cost-effective access to space from European soil.' Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's business minister, said: 'Securing the UK's first launch operator licence is a landmark moment in Skyrora's plans to become the first company in the UK to build and launch a rocket into space.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (Image: PA) Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, said: "This launch licence isn't just one giant leap for Skyrora – it's a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK's space sector. Becoming the first British company to manufacture and send a rocket into space from the UK will be a hugely significant moment. "It's an exciting time for the Scottish space sector – an important industry which is playing a vital role in our Plan for Change, helping economic growth and employing thousands of people in good quality jobs across the country. 'Glasgow in particular is a city and region with a huge role to play in the space race, with innovation in this field the focus of its £160 million UK Government funded Investment Zone status. This zone, established with local partners, is expected to generate around £300 million of initial private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs in the region."
