Historic UK rocket launch set for the end of the year

Landmark rocket launch is set to solidify the UK as a European leader in the space sector
-Credit:Getty Images


A landmark rocket launch is set to solidify the UK as a European leader in the space sector. After a £20 million government investment, UK launch company Orbex will build and launch a rocket from the shores of Scotland.

Tech Secretary Peter Kyle announced the investment on January 29 at Brussels’ European Space Conference. The investment will help to fund Orbex’s rocket Prime, the first UK-manufactured and UK-launched orbital rocket. Prime is set to take off later this year at Scottish spaceport SaxaVord.

The investment is aimed at boosting the UK’s ability to regularly launch rockets into orbit from its shores and attracting launch investment into the UK. European demand for satellites up to 2033 is forecast to be worth $50 billion, and even 2% of this would bring around $1 billion in revenues for the UK economy alone.

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The project will also bring new jobs and economic benefits to communities and organisations across the UK. So far, the Prime project has created more than 140 highly skilled jobs.

The government website states: "The launch of Prime will also help to inspire a new generation of British space professionals. By showcasing the pivotal role of Britain in the space age, government is investing now to ensure a sector that is vibrant, innovative, and above all, successful in achieving our goal for the UK to become a leading European provider of small satellite launch."

Mr Kyle said: "By investing £20 million in this rocket launch, we are not only helping the country to become a leading destination for small satellite launches in Europe but bringing highly skilled jobs and investment to communities and organisations across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change.

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"Supporting Orbex’s launch will also turbocharge the country’s position in the space sector and inspire our next generation of space professionals, who will be able to design, test, build and launch British rockets, carrying British satellites, from British soil."

Prime is poised to become the first in a new generation of ultra green launch systems, powered by renewable bio-propane fuel, which cuts carbon emissions significantly compared to other similarly sized rockets being developed elsewhere around the world.