Sutherland Spaceport To Pause - Orbex To Begin Development Of Medium-sized Launch Vehicle And Switch Launch Operations To Saxavord Spaceport In Shetland

4th December 2024

Spaceflight company Orbex is to focus its operations exclusively on developing small and medium sized space rockets after switching its launch operations to SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.

The company has decided to pause construction of its own spaceport in Sutherland and will instead launch its first rockets from SaxaVord. The decision enables the company to direct more funding to the development of a new, medium-sized launch vehicle called Proxima.

Orbex will retain its lease to build and operate its own spaceport at Sutherland in order to give it flexibility to increase launch capacity in the future. This will be kept under continuous review.

Phil Chambers, CEO of Orbex, said: "Orbex is first and foremost a launch services specialist. Our primary goal is to support the European space industry by achieving a sustainable series of satellite launches into low Earth orbit. This is best achieved by focusing our resources and talents on developing launch vehicles and associated launch services. This decision will help us to reach first launch in 2025 and provides SaxaVord with another customer to further strengthen its commercial proposition. It's a win-win for UK and Scottish space."

Frank Strang, CEO of SaxaVord spaceport, said: “We're delighted to welcome Orbex to SaxaVord. Given the scale of their ambition and the evolution of their offer to include a medium-sized launch vehicle, it makes sense for Orbex to start operations from SaxaVord Spaceport, which is already licenced and in a position to support their upcoming launches.”

The UK’s space industry is developing very quickly and requires the associated economies of scale and synergies to maintain its competitiveness for launch services from Europe."

Orbex is planning to increase the size of its manufacturing capability in Forres to ensure it can meet demand for its smaller vehicle, known as Prime. It will now also use the site to develop a new medium launch vehicle, which will enable Orbex to send more and larger satellites into orbit. It also better positions the business to participate in the European Launcher Challenge, an ESA-run competition to assist with the development of European launch capabilities and to service institutional and commercial contracts.

Phil Chambers added: “Medium-sized space rockets will play an important role in the European space industry in years to come. It is part of our strategic plan to offer the market a medium-sized launcher that will compete in Europe for larger payloads. Pausing the construction of our own spaceport enables us to now focus on developing this offering.”