Orbex Space is a UK-based, private launch services company focused on serving the small satellite industry. They are developing the Orbex Prime, a micro-launch vehicle designed for low-Earth orbit satellite deployment, utilizing innovative and sustainable bio-propane fuel. While initially planning to launch from Sutherland Spaceport, Orbex has shifted its launch operations to SaxaVord Spaceport. Orbex's key partners and customers include the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and companies like Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and Astrocast.
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Orbex previously raised $24,000,000 in December 2020 and $39,000,000 in July 2018.
Orbex is developing Prime, a small launch vehicle designed to place up to 180 kg into low Earth orbit.
The European Space Agency awarded Orbex 7,450,000 EUR in March 2021 through its Boost! program to support new launch vehicle development.
Many of the new Orbex roles will support integrated testing of the complete rocket at the Orbex LP1 launch platform test facility at Kinloss.
Orbex states that using bio-propane will reduce carbon emissions by up to 96%.
Orbex considers the Sutherland site its home spaceport while remaining open to working with other European and American spaceports.
Orbex received part of nearly $40,000,000 in government and private funding to continue development of Prime.
Orbex received a Boost! award valued at $7,800,000 for work on avionics and software.
Orbex planned a first launch of Prime in the second half of 2021 before schedule slips occurred.
Orbex unveiled a full-scale prototype of its Prime rocket on 2022-05-11 to use for integrated tests ahead of its maiden flight.
Orbex is a UK-based spaceflight company with headquarters, production, and testing facilities in Scotland and design and testing facilities in Denmark.
Orbex Prime is powered by a renewable bio-fuel, bio-propane, supplied by Calor UK.
A University of Exeter study found that a single launch of Orbex Prime will produce 96 percent lower carbon emissions than comparable space launch systems using fossil fuels.
Orbex is funded by BGF and Octopus Ventures, Heartcore Capital, the High-Tech Gründerfonds, strategic investor Elecnor, the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme.
Orbex unveiled a full-scale prototype of the 19-meter two-stage Prime orbital rocket on 2022-05-11.
Orbex plans integration tests of the Prime prototype ahead of a maiden flight slated for 2022 or early 2023.
Scotland is home to a launch site under development near the town of Sutherland that will host launches by Orbex.
The UK Space Agency invested £5.5 million and supported a successful European Space Agency funding application for the development of Orbex’s Prime launch vehicle.
Orbex constructed the first launch platform to be built in the UK in over 50 years that is capable of an orbital launch.
Orbex LP1 was constructed onsite at Motive Offshore Group’s headquarters in Banff, Scotland.