Latest news with #Skyrora
CNN
10-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
‘Space taxis' take satellites straight to their destination
There is a little known space race underway: the development of a more nimble generation of rockets that can transport satellites directly to their orbits. Skyrora, a Glasgow-based rocket manufacturer, call their rockets a 'taxi-service', which can save satellite companies as much as six months of manoeuvring time compared to a trip on the larger rockets in operation today.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Scottish company hopes to have rocket in space next year
A Scottish company is strapped in and joining the European space called Skyrora and has high hopes of sending its rockets into space from 2026.A number of other companies are already working to try and become the first to launch satellites from European soil, with some of them planning on using the UK's first spaceport - already attempted to launch a different rocket - called Skylark - from Iceland in October 2022, but it fell into the sea after lift-off due to a software problem. Skyrora says it plans to try a sub-orbital launch later this year.A sub-orbital is where something reaches outer space, but not fast enough for it to be able to stay in space once it gets want to do this from SaxaVord, but talks with its owners are still ongoing. The rocket - known as XL - is around the length of two buses and is being made at a factory in Cumbernauld in North Lanarkshire. It will be able to carry up to 315kg and the plan is for it to send small satellites into space. Tests are set to take place in the second half of the year.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scottish company to launch rockets into space 'next year'
A SCOTTISH company aims to send its rockets into space from 2026, following an attempt at a suborbital launch later this year. Skyrora is building its first 23-metre rocket called XL at a factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, with the goal of sending small satellites into space. An attempt to launch a smaller rocket called Skylark from Iceland ended in failure in October 2022, when a software problem led to it falling into the sea just after lift-off. Inside Skyora's factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire (Image: PA) A view of an engine test taking place inside the factory (Image: PA) A number of companies are working to become the first to launch satellites into space from European soil, with several planning on using SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands. At least two hope to carry out launches by the end of this year, while a spaceport in Norway is also preparing for a launch attempt. READ MORE: Scotland set to be site of Europe's first rocket launch into space as approval given Germany's RFA is thought to have the most advanced plans and it was officially licensed for spaceflight by the regulator last month. Alan Thompson, Skyrora's head of government affairs, said the Glasgow-based company is keen to carry out its next flight attempt from the UK, where its factory and testing site are based. He told the PA news agency it hopes to launch Skylark – which will not deploy satellites into space – as a 'proof of concept' from SaxaVord around this summer, though discussions with the spaceport's owners are ongoing. He said: 'We are hoping to get the fire testing done by the end of the year. Engine test taking place outside the factory (Image: PA) 'If we are fortunate, then hopefully we will get launch windows for next year for XL.' He said 2026 is the 'realistic' timescale for launching XL, which can carry up to 315kg to a sun-synchronous orbit. READ MORE: Work begins on Scotland's third spaceport in multi-million pound development Its first stage will use nine engines firing together, and Skyrora aims to do its first test-firing of the full stage in the second half of this year. Ultimately the company wants to achieve a regular schedule of launches, going from two or three initially to as many as six after a few years. Thompson told Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee earlier this month that the company had chosen Iceland as the site of its first launch attempt due to regulatory delays in the UK – saying it had 'got tired of waiting'.
The Independent
17-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Rockets made in Lanarkshire should reach space next year, company says
A Scottish company aims to send its rockets into space from 2026, following an attempt at a suborbital launch later this year. Skyrora is building its first 23-metre rocket called XL at a factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, with the goal of sending small satellites into space. An attempt to launch a smaller rocket called Skylark from Iceland ended in failure in October 2022, when a software problem led to it falling into the sea just after lift-off. A number of companies are working to become the first to launch satellites into space from European soil, with several planning on using SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands. At least two hope to carry out launches by the end of this year, while a spaceport in Norway is also preparing for a launch attempt. Germany's RFA is thought to have the most advanced plans and it was officially licensed for spaceflight by the regulator last month. Alan Thompson, Skyrora's head of government affairs, said the Glasgow-based company is keen to carry out its next flight attempt from the UK, where its factory and testing site are based. He told the PA news agency it hopes to launch Skylark – which will not deploy satellites into space – as a 'proof of concept' from SaxaVord around this summer, though discussions with the spaceport's owners are ongoing. He said: 'We are hoping to get the fire testing done by the end of the year. 'If we are fortunate, then hopefully we will get launch windows for next year for XL.' He said 2026 is the 'realistic' timescale for launching XL, which can carry up to 315kg to a sun-synchronous orbit. Its first stage will use nine engines firing together, and Skyrora aims to do its first test-firing of the full stage in the second half of this year. Ultimately the company wants to achieve a regular schedule of launches, going from two or three initially to as many as six after a few years. Mr Thompson told Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee earlier this month that the company had chosen Iceland as the site of its first launch attempt due to regulatory delays in the UK – saying it had 'got tired of waiting'.
The Independent
05-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Spaceport on Shetland Islands will be ready for launch by July, MPs told
The spaceport at the northernmost tip of the UK will be ready for satellite launches by July, MPs have been told. A number of companies plan to use SaxaVord Spaceport, on Unst in the Shetland Islands, as a launch site for commercial rockets. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), from Germany, is thought to have the most advanced plans and it was officially licensed for spaceflight by the regulator last month. Orbex, based in Forres in north-east Scotland, recently announced it will switch its first launch from Sutherland Spaceport to SaxaVord. It hopes to blast off its 'Prime' rocket for the first time towards the end of this year. On Wednesday, Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee heard from a number of figures in the space industry who hope to tap into a lucrative global market for small satellite launches. Scott Hammond, deputy chief executive of SaxaVord, said work is ongoing on the integration hangar where rocket stages will be joined together and satellites mated to the vehicles. He told the MPs they are 'absolutely' planning on a launch this year, adding staff are now going through a detailed training process. Mr Hammond said: 'Our aim is to have all of that done by July 1. After which, the second part of the year, we are now ready for launch.' He compared SaxaVord to the UK's Cape Canaveral, stressing there is competition from Norway's Andoya Spaceport. Quizzed on whether SaxaVord needs more Government financial support, he said: 'Yes and no, we would quite happily take it, if we don't get it we will have to go out and get extra money and work very hard.' He urged the MoD not to rely on Elon Musk's SpaceX for launches, saying the US Space Force has 'effectively booked all of the launches from the States until 2030 – so if we want to get UK satellites up there, we're going to have to find another way of doing it'. Phil Chambers, chief executive of Orbex, was asked about his company's decision to pause work at the Sutherland Spaceport site. Politicians representing the Highlands have been disappointed at the decision, noting Sutherland Spaceport has received support from the regional development agency. Mr Chambers said it was a purely commercial decision, as completing work at the site near Tongue would have cost £15 million and the company had not raised as much money as hoped. However he suggested Orbex could restart work at Sutherland if it needs more launch capacity by 2028, adding: 'It's not a decision we took lightly and not one that is easy to chop and change. 'We have a new plan now, which is to do the first 10 launches a year from SaxaVord and then look for the additional capacity in Sutherland.' He added that objections from Anders Holch Povlsen, Scotland's richest man and an investor in SaxaVord Spaceport, had not prevented Sutherland from receiving planning permission. Alan Thompson, head of government affairs at Skyrora, said his company aims to carry out a suborbital rocket launch from SaxaVord later this year. He said Skyrora has experienced delays from the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and had carried out its first test launch from Iceland as 'we got tired of waiting'. Jorn Spurmann, chief commercial officer of RFA, spoke about the tests his company is carrying out to prepare for the first flight. An engine test at SaxaVord in August last year resulted in the first stage of its rocket exploding, which Mr Spurmann described as a 'big and wonderful image' which had resulted in 'a lot of learning'.
