A company behind a rocket engine which exploded during a test at the UK's new spaceport in Shetland could still be the first in Europe to carry o

UK first as vertical rocket launch licence granted

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2025-01-25 00:00:09

A company behind a rocket engine which exploded during a test at the UK's new spaceport in Shetland could still be the first in Europe to carry out vertical launches into orbit.

German firm Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) have been awarded the first Launch Operator Licence allowing it to launch rockets from the SaxaVord Spaceport.

The licence, granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), gives permission for RFA to launch up to ten rockets a year into space carrying a number of small satellites and other payloads.

Rob Bishton, from the CAA, said: "This is a new era for aerospace and granting the first vertical launch licence from UK soil builds towards a historic milestone for the nation.

"This licence is the culmination of extensive hard work behind the scenes to put appropriate safety and environmental measures in place before launch."

SaxaVord Spaceport already has all of the licences it needs to operate and hope to eventually launch up to 30 rockets per year.

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