NewsScottish Shetlands to host Britain's first spaceport. SaxaVord ready for rocket launch by 2024

Scottish Shetlands to host Britain's first spaceport. SaxaVord ready for rocket launch by 2024

This newfound responsibility is significantly substantial news for this small community. They will host the first British spaceport for rocket launching.

The SaxaVord base on the island of Unst in the Shetlands in Scotland.
The SaxaVord base on the island of Unst in the Shetlands in Scotland.
Images source: © Wikimedia Commons

5:11 PM EST, December 18, 2023

As detailed by express.co.uk, this is set to be the first fully licensed spaceport in Western Europe, which has been approved for vertical orbit launches.

The SaxaVord license will facilitate up to 30 launches per year. Testing is anticipated to begin in August 2024, while targets are expected to reach orbit from 2025 onwards.

The rocket landing pad will be set up in a secluded, rural area, encircled by the sea. As of yet, it remains uncertain if public viewing platforms will be established nearby.

Unst, the small island, assigned cosmic task; SaxaVord port construction is in progress

Tim Johnson, the Director of Space Regulation at the CAA, heralded the granting of a license to SaxaVord as a defining moment for the UK space industry. "This sets the stage for a new chapter in UK space. We are committed to ensuring the safety and sustainable growth of UK space activities," stated Johnson.

The license and future prospects have delighted both the UK government and local Scottish authorities. The local residents are also thrilled as a significant center in the vicinity implies enhanced opportunities for economic development.

Related content
© essanews.com
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.