And this week, Skyrora — a United Kingdom–based, home-grown aerospace company — has made history! It has due to become the first company in the country to receive a vertical launch operator licence from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It’s a big deal. This formidable accomplishment stands for a huge milestone for the UK space community. It’s an example of the growing capabilities of home-grown firms in the aerospace supply chain.
Commenting on the CAA’s announcement, chief exec Rob Bishton said it would be “hard to overstate the significance” of this change. He stated that granting the launch licence to Skyrora represents a “major milestone for our space sector and our nation.” The CAA’s regulatory efforts aim to foster a safe and robust environment for the burgeoning launch industry, which is expected to create new jobs and attract considerable investment.
Volodymyr Levykin, Skyrora’s chief executive, said the achievement was something of which they were proud. He characterised the process of getting to the launch licence as “long but ultimately very fruitful.” Levykin further added that this success from valuation standpoint is a personal win for the firm. It further demonstrates the commitment of all those concerned at Skyrora.
The company has built a 11-meter (36-foot) tall rocket manufactured from pieces largely created through 3D printing at the UK. This ingenious design helps the rocket travel at speeds of 3.5x the speed of sound! Skyrora is preparing to conduct launches from the SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst, one of the Shetland Islands. Their long term goals are to do up to 16 launches a year by 2030!
SaxaVord Spaceport, previously an RAF radar station, is where Skyrora will be launching most of their rockets from. The firm has announced plans for its rocket to fly as high as around 310 miles (500 km). After that the rocket would return safely to Earth. While this is certainly progress, challenges still remain. A recent hot-fire test at the site ended with an engine explosion, illustrating some of the risks associated with aerospace development.
Levykin sought to reassure stakeholders about Skyrora’s safety. “Safety is paramount to us, and so we are grateful to the CAA for its diligence in ensuring any launch activity is held to the highest of standards,” he stated.
If all future launches by Skyrora are successful, they will become the first British company to develop and successfully launch a rocket to space from UK soil. This historic breakthrough will open the door to transformational leaps forward in the nation’s space capabilities.