Permission Granted for Britain’s First Vertical Rocket Launch at Shetland Spaceport

Published: 05 August ‘2025 | The English Chronicle Online

In a historic milestone for the UK space industry, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has officially granted permission for the first vertical rocket launch from British soil by a domestic company. Glasgow-based Skyrora has been authorised to launch its Skylark L rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, marking a significant step toward establishing sovereign UK launch capabilities.

The licence allows for up to 16 launches annually, though practical considerations mean that the first launch from SaxaVord is not expected before early 2026. Skyrora’s current licence is limited to sub-orbital flights, with the Skylark L rocket designed to reach altitudes between 120 and 130 kilometres—well beyond the internationally recognised boundary of space known as the Karman Line, which lies at 100 kilometres.

While this sub-orbital launch is an important technical and regulatory achievement, it is not yet the equivalent of orbital launches from facilities like America’s Cape Canaveral. Skylark L does not have the capability to place satellites into low-Earth orbit, a key objective for the burgeoning “micro-launch” sector focused on servicing the expanding small satellite market.

Skyrora’s approach, in line with many competitors worldwide, is to begin with smaller test vehicles to validate new technologies and work through the regulatory landscape before advancing to orbital missions. The company plans to follow Skylark L with a larger vehicle, Skyrora-XL, capable of reaching orbit.

The geographic advantage of launching from the UK’s northern latitudes offers favorable trajectories for satellites heading into polar or sun-synchronous orbits, which are increasingly valuable for Earth observation and communications.

Volodymyr Levykin, Skyrora’s CEO, expressed pride in the company’s pioneering role. “Skyrora is proud to be leading efforts that enable launch activity from the UK, and we look forward to achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all,” he said. “It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities.”

The development has drawn positive remarks from government officials as well. Aviation and Space Minister Mike Kane called the approval an “important milestone in the UK space sector” and congratulated Skyrora on becoming the first British company to secure a rocket launch licence.

Despite this progress, the UK’s space ambitions have faced criticism for delays. Since the passage of the Space Industry Act in 2018, which laid the groundwork for domestic launch activity, Britain has been seen by some experts as slow to catch up with other nations rapidly expanding their space infrastructure.

Looking ahead, the UK aims to establish itself as a competitive player in the fast-growing global commercial space market. Smaller, responsive rocket launches could provide cost-effective access to orbit for satellites, supporting industries from telecommunications to environmental monitoring.

As Skyrora prepares for its first launch campaign, the coming years will be crucial in defining the country’s role in the new space era and its ability to balance innovation, safety, and international collaboration.