CAA
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has awarded the licence to the Edinburgh-based company. It is hoping to launch from the SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetlands, but the licence covers any UK site.
“Becoming the first homegrown company in the UK to receive a launch operator licence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Skyrora,” said the CEO of Skyrora, Volodymyr Levykin.
“We are pleased to be able to move forward with our launch plans. Given that operators like us, alongside the CAA, have been forging a new path, the journey to getting our UK licence has been a long but ultimately rewarding one. Safety is paramount to us, and so we are grateful to the CAA for its diligence in ensuring any launch activity is held to the highest of standards.”
Skylark L
Standing 11m tall, the Skyrora Skylark L will be capable of carrying 50kg over 125km. This is beyond the Kármán line, defining a boundary of space.
It is powered by a 30kN bipropellant engine and built with 3D-printed components in the UK.
The company highlights it was initially developed to validate subsystems ahead of Skyrora XL. The prototype has also opened doors to microgravity research at a lower cost than orbital alternatives, says Skyrora.
Pictured right is the Skyrora rocket at a site in Langanes, Iceland. The attempted launch in 2022 was unsuccessful.
Skyrora sovereign
“It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities,” added Levykin.
“Not only to unlock commercial activity for companies that need to access space and to help achieve the government’s objectives for becoming a global player in the space sector, but also from a strategic defence consideration.”
See also: Skyrora, Viasat progress InRange space launch telemetry relay system
