By Simon McLoud
Rumours are rife in the Scottish Space industry; they suggest that SaxaVord may be able to facilitate other plans to enable a first orbital launch from the UK this year. Despite a significant setback occurring with the recent failure of Rocket Factory Augsburg’s (RFA) engine test at the Shetland facility, it now seems that something of a space race is afoot to replace RFA as the first to launch.
Whilst RFA maintain that their medium-term plans remain unaltered, it seems likely that the failure will remove all possibility of them being the first to launch.
Christophe Zola in Silicon Scotland reports that other candidates are lining up to replace RFA as the first orbital launch from UK soil. All of the likely candidates are understood to be set on using the Shetland facility. These candidates are said to include Hyimpluse and Lockheed Martin. However, recent reports suggest that British firm Skyrora may be well placed to lead the way.
The three-stage Skyrora XL, powered by its 3D printed engines may be closer to a first launch than had been previously intimated. Although Skyrora has previously stated that it hopes to be launching around a dozen satellites a year from Unst, it was thought that the first launch might still be some way off.
Another competitor is Orbex. However, its ties to the proposed, but as yet unlicenced, Sutherland launch site, make it unlikely that Orbex will be able to compete for this honour. Its technology is well advanced, but doubts over Sutherland’s future remain an obstacle.
Engineers at Skyrora’s Cumbernauld facility are already hard at work, busily constructing engines for its first orbital flight. A flight which they had already planned for 2024. This background, added to its contracts with SaxaVord to conduct a series of launches, make it a favourite to move into pole position. (SaxaVord being licenced and operationally prepared.)
Only one thing seems certain. SaxaVord is likely to be the focal point of a ‘New Space’ race. A race where the rewards for success are seen as being highly significant.
