Blast off for historic Scots rocket tests
● UK space race is relaunched, even without lift-off
The UK’S first complete ground rocket test in 50 years has been carried out in Scotland.
Edinburgh-based space technologies firm Skyrora has tested the 11m-tall Skylark-l rocket at Kildermorie Estate, near Alness in the Highlands.
The test was carried out with the rocket tethered to the ground.
The Skylark-l rocket could be ready to launch from a British spaceport as early as next year. Sites in the Highlands, Western Isles and Northern Isles are being considered.
The first rocket test of its kind in the UK for half a century has taken place in the Scottish Highlands.
Skyrora has completed a full ground static fire trial with the Skylark-l at Kildemorie Estate near Alness, marking a possible return to the space race for the nation.
It was the first vertical test of this magnitude in the UK since the Black Arrow Programme 50 years ago.
The Skylark-l rocket could be ready to launch from a British spaceport as early as spring next year.
The inaugural launch of the low Earth orbital (LEO) Skyrora XL rocket is planned for 2023.
Volodymyr Levykin, chief executive of the firm, said: “As the launch aspect of the UK’S new space industry starts to emerge, there will be many events that have never happened here previously and this is one of them.
“This was a mammoth effort in very trying circumstances, so it is quite an achievement to be proud of.
“The operation was carried out while having to adhere to very strict social distancing measures, and in an extremely remote location, providing additional challenges, all of which were handled expertly by all the team.
“We see this as being the first significant step towards reaching space from our own soil and are very proud to have taken that step as part of the
UK’S space ambitions.
“We are now in a full state of readiness for launch. It is this milestone that is the start of the UK’S new space revolution.
“With the expertise in place and all the necessary hardware at the ready, we are poised to take the next steps in making the UK a serious leader in the space business once again.”
Skylark-l is a bi-liquid propellant vehicle that performed all actions of a launch while restrained to the ground and
Skyrora chief executive
prevented from taking off. It is the firm’s first sub-orbital flight vehicle and is capable of reaching a height of around 62 miles, carrying a load of up to 60kg.
The team built the mobile launch complex within five days.
It was made up of several modules including a command centre, oxidiser and fuel handing containers and a compressed gas container.
Cornwall is among other locations battling it out to be the first UK spaceport alongside three sites in the north of Scotland – one in Sutherland and two others in North Uist and Shetland.
Unst in Shetland, the most northerly inhabited island in the UK, has been selected as the ideal spot to construct a commercial satellite launch pad as the nation bids to join the new and rapidly growing global space sector.
The spaceport on Unst is expected to be fully operational by 2021.
“Wearenowinafull state of readiness for launch. It is this milestone that is the start of the UK’S new space revolution.”
VOLODYMYR LEVYKIN