It usually comes as a surprise to visitors – and the occasional local who perhaps does not follow the news too avidly – that Shetland is home to a spaceport which from next year will regularly launch rockets carrying payloads of small satellites into orbit.
SaxaVord Spaceport is the United Kingdom’s premier, multi-user vertical launch site, offering the most direct route to polar and sun-synchronous orbits in Europe.
Situated, in Unst, SaxaVord provides both launch and ground station facilities for a range of US, European and British satellite and launch providers.
Its strategic positioning means it has the ability to offer competitive pricing due to its direct access to orbit over the Northern Atlantic.
Its geographic advantage and growing network of ground stations allows for multiple data downloads each day, providing the infrastructure needed to support data-driven industries and society.
SaxaVord is a privately-owned launch site which when complete will have three launch pads, potentially rising to five, and the ability to offer 30 vertical launches a year. A sub-orbital launch is planned for October of this year.
Attracting a client base across the US and Europe, SaxaVordis spearheading the United Kingdom’s vertical launch programme, as well as offering access to a ground station network. It is also pioneering cutting edge research and industry partnerships, educational collaboration and community engagement. It is the UK’s northern gateway to the global space economy.
Existing launch clients include Lockheed Martin and ABL (the UK Pathfinder mission), HyImpulse, Rocket Factory Augsburgh (RFA), Astra Space, Skyrora, Latitude and C6, and there are more in the pipeline.
Due to its geographic location the Lamba Ness site offers safe access to space with no overflight of landmass.
SaxaVord was formed in 2017 by its current management and has raised significant funding through private placement.
The spaceport team works with its clients for the entire lifecycle of a launch, from facilitating engine testing to launch day.
SaxaVord is actively measuring its environmental, social and space sustainability impact at a local and business level, and is working towards UNSDG, as well as compliance with the UK and Scottish National Space Strategies.
It is also developing and piloting education programmes in Shetland that are being rolled out across the United Kingdom, with the aim of increasing Britain's space and STEAM skill base.
The spaceport plans to create approximately 140 jobs in Unst and inject at least £4.9m per year into the island’s economy. This will provide a further 70 jobs throughout Shetland, adding a further £2.9m in gross value to the economy.
While the spaceport is of economic importance to Shetland, it is also crucial to both Scotland and the wider United Kingdom in terms of inward investment and job creation. It will position the UK as a leader within the space industry and put Scotland on the map as an area of pioneering science and development.
It is estimated that the total impact from the Spaceport will be:
£4.9 million GVA and 139 jobs in Unst
£7.5 million GVA and 209 jobs in the Shetland Islands
£9.3 million GVA and 255 jobs in Scotland.
