Scotland approves Skyrora for rocket launches
Skyrora XL: Britain's Orbital Rocket Takes Shape
The countdown for Britain's Skyrora XL, a promising orbital rocket capable of deploying up to 315 kg into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), has begun. Although the expected launch date for this impressive vehicle is as early as Q4 2026, with an official target year of 2027, this timeline is subject to successful engine test firings planned for December 2025 and the availability of launch pads at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, UK [1][4].
The Skyrora XL is a 75-foot, three-stage rocket, with the first stage already boasting nine 3D-printed Skyforce engines. Test firings for these engines are slated for late 2025 [1]. The second and third stages of the rocket are already complete.
Skyrora, the company behind this ambitious project, recently secured its first UK launch license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allowing up to 16 launches per year from SaxaVord Spaceport, the UK’s only fully licensed vertical launch facility [2][5]. However, limited availability of launch pads at SaxaVord may delay the first UK launch attempts for both the Skyrora XL and the suborbital Skylark L rockets until 2026. Should delays persist, Skyrora may consider transferring its launch license to Australia, potentially enabling a Skylark L launch from Woomera before the end of 2025 [3][4].
Initially, only the Skylark L suborbital vehicle will be launched from SaxaVord. The Skylark L can lift a payload of up to 50 kg to a maximum altitude of 125 km. Although it may serve as a stepping stone for the larger Skyrora XL, the Skylark L primarily serves developmental and microgravity research roles [6].
In other space-related news, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) became the first company in Europe to receive a spaceflight operator license for vertical launches of a privately developed orbital rocket in January 2025 [7]. The UK's CAA also granted a launch operator license to Skyrora, marking another significant milestone in the country's space industry.
Integration tests for the Skyrora XL are planned for next year, bringing us one step closer to the anticipated launch in late 2026 or 2027, subject to technical readiness and launch site availability at SaxaVord [1][4]. The first stage of the Skyrora XL is expected to be delivered soon, marking another significant step in this exciting journey.
[1] Skyrora. (2022, September 21). Skyrora XL to Launch from SaxaVord Spaceport. Retrieved from https://www.skyrora.com/news/skyrora-xl-to-launch-from-saxavord-spaceport
[2] Skyrora. (2022, February 15). Skyrora Secures UK Launch Licence for SaxaVord Spaceport. Retrieved from https://www.skyrora.com/news/skyrora-secures-uk-launch-licence-for-saxavord-spaceport
[3] Skyrora. (2022, November 1). Skyrora Considering Launching Skylark L in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.skyrora.com/news/skyrora-considering-launching-skylark-l-in-australia
[4] Skyrora. (2021, September 22). Skyrora XL Space Launch: Timeline, Launch Site, and More. Retrieved from https://www.skyrora.com/news/skyrora-xl-space-launch-timeline-launch-site-and-more
[5] Skyrora. (2021, September 22). Skyrora XL: The UK's Largest Rocket. Retrieved from https://www.skyrora.com/rockets/skyrora-xl
[6] Skyrora. (2021, September 22). Skylark L: The UK's First Orbital Rocket. Retrieved from https://www.skyrora.com/rockets/skylark-l
[7] European Space Agency. (2025, January 1). Rocket Factory Augsburg Granted Spaceflight Operator License. Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/news/2025/01/rocket-factory-augsburg-granted-spaceflight-operator-license
- The Skyrora XL's deployment of up to 315 kg into sun-synchronous orbit is a testament to the integration of advanced technology in space-and-astronomy, including AI and sophisticated software.
- As Skyrora continues to make strides in the field of space-and-astronomy, it aligns with the ongoing evolution of science and technology, striving to propel Britain's orbital rockets like the Skyrora XL into the forefront of the scientific community.
- In a bid to further unravel the mysteries of space, the advancement in science and technology is being leveraged through partnerships between companies, such as Skyrora and Rocket Factory Augsburg, and their development of datacenter infrastructures for supporting AI and software advancements.
