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In an era where space exploration is becoming increasingly accessible, Skyrora, a Scottish aerospace company, is making significant strides towards launching its rockets into orbit. With plans to send its first rocket, the XL, into space by 2026, Skyrora is positioning itself as a key player in the burgeoning European space industry. The company is currently constructing the 23-meter XL rocket at its facility in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, with the primary objective of deploying small satellites into orbit.
Challenges and aspirations in rocket launches
Skyrora’s journey has not been without its challenges. The company faced a setback in October 2022 when an attempt to launch a smaller rocket, Skylark, from Iceland ended in failure due to a software issue that caused the rocket to crash into the sea shortly after takeoff. Despite this setback, Skyrora remains undeterred and is eager to demonstrate its capabilities through a series of planned launches. Alan Thompson, Skyrora’s head of government affairs, expressed the company’s commitment to conducting its next flight attempt from the UK, where its manufacturing and testing facilities are located.
Strategic partnerships and future plans
As part of its ambitious roadmap, Skyrora is in discussions with the owners of SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, aiming to conduct a proof-of-concept launch of Skylark in the summer of this year. Thompson noted that the company is optimistic about completing fire testing by the end of the year, with hopes of securing launch windows for the XL rocket in 2026. The XL rocket is designed to carry payloads of up to 315 kilograms to a sun-synchronous orbit, utilizing nine engines in its first stage, which Skyrora plans to test in the latter half of this year.
The competitive landscape of European space launches
Skyrora is not alone in its quest to establish a foothold in the European space launch market. Several companies are vying to be the first to launch satellites from European soil, with at least two aiming for launches by the end of this year. Germany’s RFA has emerged as a frontrunner, having received official licensing for spaceflight from regulatory authorities. As the competition heats up, Skyrora’s vision of achieving a regular launch schedule—starting with two or three launches and scaling up to six—reflects the growing demand for satellite deployment capabilities.
As the landscape of space exploration evolves, Skyrora’s determination to overcome regulatory hurdles and technical challenges underscores the dynamic nature of the aerospace industry. With a clear timeline and ambitious goals, the company is poised to make a significant impact on the future of satellite launches from the UK.