Rival spaceport ‘paused’ as aerospace firm announces switch to SaxaVord 

Orbex Prime rocket. 

An aerospace company has switched its launch plans to SaxaVord after “pausing” construction at a rival spaceport.

The announcement today (Wednesday) by Orbex has been hailed as a “win-win” for the UK and Scottish space sector.

The Scottish firm had been working on its own spaceport in Sutherland - but will now focus exclusively on developing rockets to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst.

The £20m Sutherland Spaceport had a £14.6m public investment package confirmed, including more than £9m from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

However, it had faced objections, including from SaxaVord Spaceport backer and Scotland’s largest private landowner Anders Povlsen, the Danish billionaire.

Orbex said its decision enabled 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 to give it flexibility to increase launch capacity in the future.

Orbex chief executive Phil Chambers 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.”

Mr Chambers said the decision to pause construction at Sutherland had “not been taken lightly” and the company was still committed to the North of Scotland.

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.

SaxaVord Spaceport chief executive Frank Strand has welcomed Orbex’s decision.

“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,” he said.

“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.”