All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
On 21 January Orbex published a press release that a letter of intent had been signed, that negotiations had begun, and that transaction details remain confidential.
Orbex has signed a letter of intent to sell its business to The Exploration Company.
An attempt to sell Orbex to a private consortium was unable to raise sufficient capital, according to a source who spoke to European Spaceflight.
Orbex said in evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee in March that it would need to raise a further £120 million in private capital to support its four-year plan.
Companies House shows Orbex is overdue in filing its 2024 financial accounts, which were due on 31 December 2025.
Orbex’s Danish subsidiary, Orbital Express Launch ApS, is set to file for bankruptcy.
The United Kingdom committed €144 million overall to the European Launcher Challenge but allocated only €21.7 million to Orbex and €10 million to Rocket Factory Augsburg, leaving €112.3 million unallocated.
The European Space Agency preselected Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Orbex, and PLD Space as challengers for the European Launcher Challenge in July.
Orbex is based in Scotland with engine development facilities in Denmark and had originally sought to develop a launch site in northern Scotland before deciding to use SaxaVord Spaceport.
Orbex won UK Space Agency funding in 2018 as part of plans to establish a northern Scotland spaceport.
Orbex secured a £20 million investment from the UK government and a launch services agreement with D-Orbit.
Germany also committed €4.2 million to Maiaspace, €1.8 million to Orbex, and €100,000 to PLD Space.
Member states pledged €902.2 million as part of the European Launcher Challenge (ELC) to fund five launch companies: Germany's Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), France's Maiaspace, Spain's PLD Space, and the UK's Orbex.
The UK pledged €21.7 million of its total €144 million ELC contribution to the local launcher Orbex, while holding most funds in an account labeled 'to be distributed.'
Czech Republic is contributing 200,000 euros to ensure opportunities for its industry in the supply chain of Orbex.
It is anticipated that most of the UK funding will go to the British company Orbex, as the UK does not participate in the Ariane 6 or Vega C programs.
ESA shortlisted Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space, MaiaSpace, and Orbex in July 2025 for the next phase of the initiative.
Czechia committed €200,000 to the European Launcher Challenge, assigning €100,000 to Orbex for Prime in Component A.
Portugal contributed €3.40 million, assigning €3.30 million to Orbex for Prime in Component A.
Germany contributed €100,000 to Orbex for Prime in Component A and €1.7 million in Component B.