Astronaut Tim Peake lands on advisory board at space company Skyrora
The first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station is backing a bid to get the space industry established in Shetland by joining a pioneering space rocket firm.
Tim Peake has been appointed to the advisory board of Skyrora – which describes itself as a proven “leader within the UK space race,” and last month launched a rocket from Fethaland Peninsula on Britain’s most northerly islands.
The firm said Peake’s experience, including his spell as an International Space Station crew member, will be “invaluable” as it continues its development of the Skyrora XL rocket for providing orbital launches by 2023.
Skyrora – which hopes to operate from one of the three proposed spaceports in Scotland – in June launched the two-metre Skylark Nano rocket, which reached an altitude of 3.7 miles from Shetland.
It followed a recent full ground test, which it said was the first in the UK since the Black Arrow Programme 50 years ago, of its second-largest launch vehicle.
Peake said his arrival on the board will support Skyrora in developing a commercial rocket launch capability.
“The UK is well-placed to become a key player in meeting the increasing need for small satellite launch opportunities and Skyrora’s innovative ideas and rapid pace of development make them an extremely exciting company to be working with,” he said.
Skyrora chief executive
Volodymyr Levykin said he “couldn’t be more excited” aboutpeakejoiningtheboard. “Tim’s knowledge, insight, and vast experience in the space industry will boost Skyrora’s efforts to become the UK’S premier and principal company for commercial rocket launches. His level of expertise will help us to gain more insight into the rapidly evolving UK space industry.