The UK government has committed a £30 million investment to the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, positioning Scotland to become a primary hub for European orbital satellite launches. The funding aims to bolster national security, drive economic growth, and enable Britain and its international partners to deploy satellites without relying on launch facilities further afield. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander noted that with this investment, SaxaVord is poised to deliver up to three-quarters of the continent's orbital launch slots.
The £30 million commitment is part of a larger £148 million investment package across Europe intended to help UK space technology firms secure international work. The agreement remains subject to due diligence and final sign-off. Lise Kaae, chief executive of Heartland—which holds a majority stake in SaxaVord through its investment arm Wild Ventures—welcomed the UK government as an investor and partner.
SaxaVord has already secured launch agreements with two German aerospace companies: Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and HyImpulse Technologies GmbH. RFA is preparing for its first vertical orbital test flight from UK soil, though plans for a test launch were paused in August after the firm reported an operational issue. Meanwhile, HyImpulse, which recently raised more than €50 million (£43 million), plans to carry out the second flight of its SR75 suborbital vehicle from Shetland this year.
Industry representatives emphasized that thorough safety testing takes priority over launch schedules. Derek Harris, head of programmes at Space Scotland, stated that potential schedule slips into next year should be viewed as part of a well-maintained safety program rather than a failure. He added that while mastering launch technology in challenging weather conditions requires time and funding, successful operations will deliver substantial long-term benefits for Scotland and the wider UK.