Orbex has announced that construction has begun at Sutherland Spaceport, which is set to become the first vertical launch site to be built on the UK mainland.
Located on the north coast of Scotland, it will be the 'home' spaceport of Forres-based rocket and launch services company, which plans to launch up to 12 orbital rockets per year for the deployment of satellites.
A ceremony to mark the start of construction was attended by Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Richard Lochhead, UK Space Agency deputy chief executive Ian Annett, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) director of strategic projects David Oxley and Melness Crofters Estate chair Dorothy Pritchard, as well as many local representatives that have supported the development over the years.
Sutherland Spaceport is intended to become the first carbon-neutral spaceport in the world, both in its construction and its operation. One illustration of this is how peat lifted during the construction will be re-used to repair large areas of peatland that have degraded over centuries.
The spaceport is also expected to support around 250 new jobs in the Highlands and Islands over the coming years, including 40 jobs in Sutherland and Caithness.
Economic impact assessments commissioned by HIE concluded that the presence of the spaceport has the potential to generate almost £1bn in gross value added for the local economy over the next 30 years.
It was also confirmed today that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will contribute £3m to support the development of Sutherland Spaceport, completing a public investment package that also includes just over £9m from HIE and the Scottish Government and £2.55m that the UK Space Agency announced in 2018.
The NDA chose to support the spaceport following the decommissioning of the nearby Dounreay nuclear power station, as part of its remit to retire the UK’s oldest nuclear sites while supporting affected communities and the environment.
Orbex recently signed a 50-year sublease with HIE, enabling it to direct the construction and assume full operational management of the new facility on the community-owned Melness Crofters Estate.
Global technical services company Jacobs has been contracted for the construction of the site, as well as spaceport operations support, consultancy and engineering services.
In addition to the short-term contracts for local businesses and contractors that will result from construction, Orbex will be recruiting for local jobs to support the operation of the spaceport.
The types of roles will span several areas, including facilities and operational management, security, general administration and finance, stakeholder engagement and launch campaign-related roles.
Last May, Orbex revealed the final version of its Prime rocket, a 19-metre long, two-stage rocket designed to transport small satellites weighing up to 180kg into Low Earth Orbit. Uniquely, it is powered by a renewable bio-fuel, Futuria Liquid Gas, supplied by Calor UK, which means it should produce 96% lower carbon emissions than comparable space launch systems using fossil fuels.
The company has already signed launch contracts with seven customers.
It also recently concluded its Series C funding round, netting an additional £40.4m and allowing a long-term focus beyond the first launch.
In preparation for the first launch, Orbex is performing a variety of integration tests, as well as testing launch procedures, including rollout and fuelling procedures. To support the integration testing stage, over the last few months recruitment efforts have been ramped up at its Forres headquarters, adding dozens of new team members.
Kristian von Bengtson, chief development officer and interim chief executive at Orbex, commented: “With the construction of Sutherland Spaceport underway, this is an important piece of the puzzle that will make the UK a modern space nation.
“Just as importantly, we’re hopefully also setting the tone for how business can be a force for good, creating jobs and opportunities while minimising the impact upon the environment.”
Pritchard said: “We're starting to see the physical representation of a dream that began several years ago.
“This is our way of regenerating this community and reversing population decline, by giving families a reason to stay or come back to this area.”
Lochhead stated: “It is an incredibly exciting time for the space sector, with the first orbital launch from UK soil expected to take place in Scotland later this year.
“Despite our relatively small country, Scotland plays a leading role in the space sector and with the global market projected to grow to £490bn by 2030, we are well placed to become Europe’s leading space nation by 2030.”
Annett added: “The UK Space Agency has invested £8.5m in Scottish-based launch technologies through the European Space Agency's Boost! programme, as well as £2.5m towards the spaceport and £5.5m for the development of Orbex’s Prime rocket, which has catalysed further investment from private and public partners.
“Not only will Sutherland Spaceport unlock 250 new job opportunities and boost the Highlands and Islands economy, but its carbon-neutral ambition underlines the UK’s position as a world-leader in sustainable space activities.”
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