Authorization approved for historic British rocket takeoff
UK's Skyrora Awaits Launch Pad Availability for First Vertical Launch
British space company Skyrora has secured the UK's first vertical launch license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct up to 16 suborbital launches per year from the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands. However, the company's ambitions for a 2025 launch remain grounded due to the unavailability of launch pads at SaxaVord, with the spaceport's full launch readiness now expected in 2026.
The CAA license, granted in July 2025 and announced in early August, marks a significant regulatory milestone for the UK space sector. Skyrora, with a flight-ready vehicle (the Skylark L), is eager to launch as soon as a pad becomes available, likely aiming for 2026 for its first vertical launch from the UK.
The Skylark L is a 11m tall rocket designed for testing various technologies and the regulatory environment before attempting an orbital flight with Skyrora-XL. The rocket is expected to reach an altitude of between 120 and 130km, but lacks the heft to access low-earth orbit.
The current focus for Skyrora remains on leveraging the UK license and addressing the launch infrastructure challenges at SaxaVord. There are no public plans or announcements about transferring the launch license to Australia or any other jurisdiction. However, if there are significant delays to Skyrora's plans to launch from SaxaVord, the company may consider transferring its CAA license to Australia's regulator.
Meanwhile, modifications being made to the SaxaVord spaceport mean it may not be ready to accommodate a launch until 2026. This delay comes as another setback for the UK's space sector, following the failure of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic for a horizontal rocket launch from an aircraft earlier this year.
On the brighter side, launching from northern latitudes like the UK offers easier access to satellites in polar or sun-synchronous orbits. If successful, Skyrora's launch could mark a significant step forward for the UK's space industry, establishing a reliable commercial launch program that benefits everyone.
[1] BBC News [2] Skyrora [3] Civil Aviation Authority [4] SaxaVord Spaceport [5] The Guardian
- Despite the unavailability of launch pads at SaxaVord Spaceport, Skyrora, armed with its CAA license and a flight-ready vehicle, the Skylark L, aims to leverage space-and-astronomy technologies for its inaugural vertical launch from the UK, possibly in 2026.
- In case of significant delays in launching from SaxaVord, Skyrora might contemplate transferring its CAA license to Australia's regulator, offering an opportunity to boost their space-and-astronomy sector through technology-driven launches.
