Scotland to launch rocket from UK’s first space port next year
A rocket is set to blast off into space from the north of Scotland next year.
The Prime rocket, which is being built by UK start-up company Orbex, will carry small satellites into orbit from the UK’s first space port.
The vertical launch from Sutherland’s Moine Peninsula was announced at Expo 2020 Dubai’s UK pavilion.
Four other space ports, with horizontal and vertical launch sites, are in development in other parts of the country.
Launch sites in Scotland offer access to both polar and sun-synchronous orbits, making them ideal for Earthobservation satellites.
Daniel Smith, founder of AstroAgency and former co-chairman of the Scottish Space Leadership Council, said Scotland’s first rocket launch was on schedule.
“We’ve not reached orbit from Scotland yet, but we plan to next year,” said Mr Smith, who was recently nominated for a Sir Arthur Clarke Award for his services to the UK space sector.
Vertical launches are the kind most people are familiar with.
Horizontal launches involve an aircraft carrying a rocket to high altitude and releasing it. The rocket then ignites and continues into space.
Three vertical launch sites are located at Sutherland, in the Western Isles and Shetland, while horizontal launch pads are in Machrihanish and Prestwick.
They are part of Scotland’s new space strategy, which was launched officially on Wednesday at the Expo.
The UK intends to capture a £4 billion share ($5.50bn) of the global space market and create 20,000 jobs in the sector by 2030.
The goal is to launch 2,000 small satellites by then to improve scientific research, telecommunications and internet connectivity in Scotland.
“This was a strategy that’s been written by government, industry and academia all together,” Mr Smith said.
There is a focus on sustainability and trying to make the space sector as sustainable as possible. One of the space ports is said to be the world’s greenest launch site.
“There are some important themes around sustainability,” Mr Smith said.
“One of the launch providers uses fuel from un-recyclable plastic. Another launch vehicle is using a bio propellant.
“We have companies that are tracking climate change and ones that are that are tracking illegal mining, fishing activity and coastal erosion.”