A SaxaVord mock rocket image illustrates how a take-off from its site at Lamba Ness in Shetland might look. PA
A SaxaVord mock rocket image illustrates how a take-off from its site at Lamba Ness in Shetland might look. PA
A SaxaVord mock rocket image illustrates how a take-off from its site at Lamba Ness in Shetland might look. PA
A SaxaVord mock rocket image illustrates how a take-off from its site at Lamba Ness in Shetland might look. PA

Construction on UK’s first vertical rocket launch site ahead of schedule


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Work to build the UK’s first vertical rocket launch site is ahead of schedule, officials have said.

The first concrete base for launching at SaxaVord Spaceport, at Lamba Ness in Unst, Shetland, was completed this month.

It is one of two launch pads, called Fredo and Elizabeth, being developed in the first phase. A third, Calum, will be built in phase two.

The company is planning 30 rockets to blast off every year from the three launch pads, to take advantage of one of Europe’s highest latitudes.

SaxaVord Spaceport chief executive Frank Strang said: "Our progress has been phenomenal, despite major constraints and significant challenges on a daily basis.

"It is a testament to the huge efforts of our spaceport team, main contractor DITT and subcontractors such as Unst Plant, a local company created specifically to work on our project.

"More new space history will be made here in Shetland next spring and summer, with the first suborbital vertical launches from the UK, followed by vertical orbital launches later in the year.

"Alongside the eagerly anticipated horizontal launch from Cornwall, this will put the UK firmly on the international space flight stage.

"We now have seven clients all vying for launch windows and the good news is that we are ahead of schedule, meaning 2023 is going to be a hugely exciting year."

SaxaVord spaceport - in pictures

Construction at the site began at the end of March.

Preparation work is now under way on the first building where rockets will be assembled and their small satellite payloads for low Earth, sun-synchronous or polar orbits will be integrated.

Rocket stage testing is expected to begin early next year.

A total of £19 million ($22.8) million, all privately raised, has been spent on the project to date, including £9 million on public road improvements from the community of Haroldswick up towards the 81-hectare site.

Britain's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) this month started a consultation to seek views on SaxaVord's assessment of the environmental effects of the spaceport.

The consultation closes on December 8.

It was confirmed this month that Spaceport Cornwall had secured an operating licence, allowing the first space launch from UK soil to go ahead.

Engineers at work on satellites in a sealed environment at Spaceport Cornwall. Getty Images
Engineers at work on satellites in a sealed environment at Spaceport Cornwall. Getty Images

The CAA said the site in Newquay, south-west England, could be used for sending satellites into space.

The first mission, the launch of Virgin Orbit's modified Boeing 747 Cosmic Girl, which will carry eight shoebox-sized satellites, is expected in the coming weeks.

The 747 will take off horizontally while carrying the rocket, before releasing it at 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland.

The plane will return to the spaceport, while the rocket will ignite its engine and take a number of small satellites into orbit with a variety of civil and defence applications.

No launch date has been confirmed publicly.

Match info

Costa Rica 0

Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')

ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

FIGHT INFO

Men’s 60kg Round 1:

Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points 
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1

Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

Leaderboard

63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)

64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)

66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)

67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)

68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)

EU Russia

The EU imports 90 per cent  of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40 per cent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil. 

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

While you're here
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X

Price, as tested: Dh84,000

Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: Six-speed auto

Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km

Updated: November 23, 2022, 3:18 PM`