Scottish spaceport achieves ‘historic milestone’ inching closer to first launch

Scotland's SaxaVord spaceport has received another vital license, bringing it closer to its first rocket launch.

The Civil Aviation Authority has awarded the spaceport in Shetland a range license. 

This permits the spaceport to clear and control the downrange zone during launches and means it will now be able to issue warnings to keep people out of hazardous areas, carry out surveillance of those areas, and monitor the progress of rockets in flight.

In other words, the new regulation will allow bosses at SaxaVord to keep people out of danger during rocket launches.

The announcement comes after SaxaVord became the UK’s first licensed vertical launch spaceport in December. 

Frank Strang, chief executive of the spaceport, said it had now achieved "historic milestones" for "the development of the UK space sector".

“This is a vital component in our preparations for launch. Satisfying such a crucial piece of the regulatory process affords everyone the comfort that we will always operate in a safe and proper manner under the watchful eye of the regulator." 

Now the spaceport is only one more license away from complying with all the regulatory requirements for its first launch, which is scheduled for later this year.

It only awaits a license for the rocket manufacturer. 

In a comment shared with Holyrood, the Scottish science minister Richard Lochhead said: "My congratulations go to the SaxaVord team on achieving this important milestone in its aim to become the gateway to future European space launches. I was delighted to visit the launch site earlier this month and find out more about the hugely exciting project, and the company’s plans to start launches from Scotland this year.

"We have big ambitions to be Europe’s leading space nation, and through the provision of the full end-to-end solution for small satellites to capture a £4bn share of the global market and employ 20,000 people over the next decade, making it one of the industries the Scottish Government has targeted as a priority for economic growth.

"We will continue to work with SaxaVord and the wider industry, academia and our economic agencies to continue to capitalise on the transformational opportunities our burgeoning space sector presents."