Polaris Intelligence
Polaris
Intelligence
AboutNational IntelligenceOrganizationsProductsMissionsSpacecraftConstellationsForecastsLatest Information
Explore
© Polaris Intelligence 2026Admin

Saxa Vord Spaceport

GB
commercial
Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
Admin Edit

All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The SCEPTRE report commissioned by the UK government in 2017 identified SaxaVord as the optimum site for a UK launch site based on orbital access and other criteria.

Mentioned as: SaxaVordTechnical ProductAug 18, 2025Frank Strang and SaxaVord: Europe’s first fully licensed vertical launch site

Rocket Factory Augsburg conducted a successful four-engine hotfire test at SaxaVord in May 2024.

Mentioned as: SaxaVordTechnical ProductAug 18, 2025Frank Strang and SaxaVord: Europe’s first fully licensed vertical launch site

Orbex expects the decision to switch operations to help it reach first launch in 2025 and to provide SaxaVord with another customer to strengthen its commercial proposition.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportOrg RelationshipDec 9, 2024Scotland loses a Spaceport

Orbex indicated that the move to SaxaVord will free up resources to accelerate its goal of achieving first launch in 2025.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative PlanDec 5, 2024Orbex halts work on own spaceport, shifts launches to SaxaVord

Rocket Factory Augsburg plans to return to SaxaVord Spaceport for a launch attempt sometime in 2025.

Mentioned as: SaxaVord SpaceportTechnical ProductDec 5, 2024Orbex halts work on own spaceport, shifts launches to SaxaVord

SaxaVord Spaceport received a CAA license last year allowing the spaceport to host up to 30 launches annually.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative GeneralOct 18, 2024Skyrora eyes spring 2025 launch amid UK regulatory hangups

Rocket Factory Augsburg experienced a static-fire explosion that ended its plans to perform the first vertical launch to orbit from British soil from SaxaVord 2024.

Mentioned as: SaxaVordTechnical ProductOct 18, 2024Skyrora eyes spring 2025 launch amid UK regulatory hangups

SaxaVord was rated three on the Spaceport Readiness Level after building infrastructure and receiving a site license but before hosting a launch.

Mentioned as: SaxaVordTechnical ProductOct 17, 2024International spaceports seek to collaborate

SaxaVord Spaceport and Sutherland Spaceport in the United Kingdom are developing facilities with plans to host orbital launches as soon as 2025.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportOrg RelationshipOct 17, 2024International spaceports seek to collaborate

Rocket Factory Augsburg's RFA ONE rocket is undergoing final testing at SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands.

Mentioned as: SaxaVord SpaceportTechnical ProductSep 16, 2024Still waiting for liftoff in the UK

RFA plans to make another launch attempt from SaxaVord sometime in 2025.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative PlanSep 16, 2024Still waiting for liftoff in the UK

SaxaVord's Scott Hammond expressed concern that launch failures might diminish political support for the industry.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative GeneralSep 16, 2024Still waiting for liftoff in the UK

El Segundo, California-based ABL Space Systems’ plan to launch from SaxaVord next year is uncertain after the company recently lost a rocket during a static-fire test.

Mentioned as: SaxaVordOrg RelationshipJul 23, 2024European Space Agency to expand UK presence

Rocket Factory Augsburg shipped the first stage of its RFA ONE rocket to SaxaVord Spaceport for a hotfire test ahead of its first launch later in 2023.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative GeneralMay 6, 2024Europe looks to end its launcher crisis

HyImpulse UK is a Shetland-based launch company developing the SL1 launch vehicle proposed to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportOrg RelationshipDec 19, 2023SaxaVord Awarded Spaceport License by Civil Aviation Authority

The latest SaxaVord licence is the 352nd space activity approved by the Civil Aviation Authority since the CAA became the UK’s space regulator in July 2021.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative GeneralDec 19, 2023SaxaVord Awarded Spaceport License by Civil Aviation Authority

Multiple international launch operators are developing rockets to launch from SaxaVord and are at various stages of assessment with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative GeneralDec 19, 2023SaxaVord Awarded Spaceport License by Civil Aviation Authority

HyImpulse plans to begin suborbital launches from SaxaVord as soon as August 2024 and expects orbital launches to begin in late 2025.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportNarrative PlanDec 18, 2023SaxaVord Spaceport receives U.K. license

Astra Space announced a partnership with SaxaVord Spaceport in May 2022 and previously expressed interest in launching from SaxaVord.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportOrg RelationshipDec 18, 2023SaxaVord Spaceport receives U.K. license

HyImpulse signed a letter of intent on 2023-11-15 to perform launches from SaxaVord.

Mentioned as: Saxa Vord SpaceportOrg RelationshipDec 18, 2023SaxaVord Spaceport receives U.K. license
Page3of6