Orbex plots to build, operate Sutherland spaceport for Prime rocket launches

Author: EIS Release Date: Nov 9, 2022

Orbex has committed to building and operating the first vertical launch site for satellites on the UK mainland, in Sutherland.

 

Orbex plots to build and operate Sutherland spaceport for Prime rocket launches

 

Spaceport Cornwall will imminently see the UK’s first satellite launch, but this will be a “horizontal” delivery, based on modified aircraft using existing airport infrastructure. Orbex, and Sutherland, will support “vertical”, rocket-based launches.

 

The Scottish rocket manufacturer – based in Forres, Moray – has signed a lease with development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the spaceport location. Specifically, the 10-acre launch site is on community-owned land on the A’ Mhoine peninsula in north-west Sutherland.

 

Orbex says it will oversee the construction and assume full operational management of the new facility, which will become the long-term ‘home’ spaceport of the company. It hopes to see the launch of up to 12 orbital rockets per year, carrying satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).

 

“Orbex is the first European launcher company to also manage a dedicated spaceport,” highlighted its CEO, Chris Larmour.

 

“It is an important competitive advantage to the company, which will make it really easy for us to work with customers as we scale up our operations.”

 

Planning permission for the site was granted by the Highland Council in August 2020. And Orbex applied for a space launch licence from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority in February 2022.

 

Funding

Last month, Orbex secured £40.4 million for its Series C funding round, led by a new investor, the Scottish National Investment Bank.

 

The company recently revealed its “Prime” rocket in its final form, described as the first full orbital micro-launcher to be unveiled in Europe. Prime is a 19-metre long, two-stage rocket designed to transport small satellites (weighing up to 180kg) into LEO. It uses 3D-printed engines.

 

Hiring

Back in August, it announced it was hiring an additional fifty staff members, to support its preparations for a first vertical rocket launch from UK soil over.

 

Many of the new roles, it said, will support ‘integrated testing’ of the complete rocket at the Orbex LP1 launch platform test facility at Kinloss. The facility allows for full ‘dress rehearsals’ of rocket launches at the site, which is situated a few miles from the Orbex HQ.

 

“The new roles will also strengthen existing teams responsible for key areas of development of the rocket, including propulsion, structures, avionics, CNC machining and embedded software. Other recruitment areas will facilitate communications between ground staff and the rocket in flight, covering fields such as GNC (guidance, navigation & control) systems, sensors, data capture, ground segment software, and radio engineering.”