Key facts
- Skyrora is the first UK-based rocket company to receive a space launch licence.
- The licence allows Skyrora to launch its Skylark L suborbital rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.
- Skyrora hopes to launch its Skylark L rocket up to 16 times a year by 2030.
- The Skylark L rocket is 11m (36ft) tall and was produced using 3D-printed components made in the UK.
- The rocket is capable of reaching 3.5 times the speed of sound and an altitude of about 310 miles (500km).
Skyrora, a Scottish company, has been granted the UK's first space launch licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This licence permits the firm to launch its Skylark L suborbital rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland. The CAA stated that granting this licence to a home-grown company is a major milestone for the UK's space sector.
The Skylark L rocket, standing 11 meters (36 feet) tall, is manufactured using 3D-printed components produced in the UK and is capable of reaching speeds of 3.5 times the speed of sound. Skyrora aims for the rocket to reach an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) and hopes to conduct up to 16 launches per year from the Shetland spaceport by 2030. The company views this suborbital capability as a cost-effective option for microgravity experiments.
Officials from the CAA, Skyrora, the UK Space Agency, and the Scottish government have hailed the licence as a significant achievement for the UK's space ambitions, emphasizing its potential to create jobs, attract investment, and establish sovereign launch capabilities. The licensing process involved rigorous assessment of safety, international obligations, and environmental considerations. Skyrora must meet several conditions, including adequate insurance and data sharing agreements, before determining its launch schedule.