Satellite launch company RFA UK has received £3.5m to support its plans for a satellite launch from Saxavord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands.
Funding for the Shetland satellite launch was awarded by the UK Space Agency as part of the European Space Agency Boost! Programme, which aims to help innovative companies develop new launch technologies and bring them to market.
RFA UK will use the funding to develop and operate the infrastructure and test equipment needed to enable them to launch from SaxaVord Spaceport and are planning to launch in Q2 2024.
RFA UK and SaxaVord Spaceport anticipate around 90 skilled jobs will be created locally when the spaceport reaches full operational capability, including spaceport operations and administration, integration, testing, and launch.
The upcoming Shetland satellite launch signifies the start of regular launches from the port
A subsidiary of Rocket Factory Augsburg AG, RFA UK is headquartered in Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland.
RFA AG will have exclusive access to the Shetland satellite launch pad from where it plans to provide a regular cadence of launch services as one of the spaceport’s anchor customers.
Measuring 30 metres tall and two metres wide, the RFA ONE launch vehicle is a three-stage launch vehicle capable of deploying up to 1,300kg to a 500km polar orbit.
The rocket uses efficient and environmentally friendly Helix staged-combustion engines, stainless steel tanks, and standardised components from other industries to offer flexible, low-cost, and precise transportation into orbit with its Redshift OTV.
Growing the Scottish space sector
George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “This £3.5m investment will enable RFA UK to develop the technologies necessary to host the Shetland satellite launch, creating dozens of jobs locally and growing the Scottish cluster as a key part of the UK space sector.”
Other funding provided by the UK Space Agency to support launch activities includes £23.4m in two separate grants to Lockheed Martin to establish launch operations from SaxaVord Spaceport.
Furthermore, funding will build a small launch orbital manoeuvring vehicle in Reading, which will launch on Lockheed Martin’s Pathfinder launch from the site.
“The Scottish space sector continues to go from strength to strength with the latest figures showing an almost £40m increase in income and more than 100 new highly-skilled jobs with support from the UK government,” explained John Lamont, UK Government Minister for Scotland.
“The new funding for a Shetland satellite launch will help support launches from SaxaVord Spaceport and maintain UK leadership in this sector.”
