The UK could be set to launch its first ever orbital rocket from the Shetland Islands this summer, pending the licensing of SaxaVord Spaceport. At a meeting of the Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee on May 17, SaxaVord executives discussed the reasons for the choice of location for the spaceport, explaining that the northern latitude of the site made it ideal for the orbits it was targeting. The executives also expressed their hope of undertaking a first rocket launch from the spaceport before the end of 2023, pending necessary licensing from the Civil Aviation Authority. The UK has only one current spaceport at Cornwall, which is built for horizontal launches.
Summer launch planned by Shetland Islands Spaceport.
