A German space rocket company has applied for a marine licence which will be required for its first launch from Shetland as it moves closer to a summer blast-off.
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has for the first time specified a potential launch window for the launch, saying it would take place no earlier than July 1.
This window is likely to last for several weeks and the company will attempt its launch on certain days within this period.
A successful launch would be the first time satellites have been carried into space from UK soil.
Update: RFA has submitted its application for the marine license for Test Flight 1 from @SaxaVord_Space. For the first time, the application also specifies a potential launch window, which will open NET (no earlier than) July 1, 2026.
— Rocket Factory Augsburg (@rfa_space) April 27, 2026
This is a legally required step for… pic.twitter.com/QQdSHJ9Ueb
A marine licence is required as the first stage of the 30 metre-tall RFA One rocket will fall into the sea as the vehicle ascends towards space.
The three-stage rocket is designed to deliver a 1,300kg payload to a sun-synchronous orbit around Earth.
The German company confirmed the application had been submitted, saying a launch date has not yet been set.
RFA said: “For the first time, the application also specifies a potential launch window, which will open NET (no earlier than) July 1, 2026.
“This is a legally-required step for planning and a good sign of how far we’ve come – but it’s not a launch date just yet.
“We applied for this window because we’re working hard to be ready – and we’re getting closer every day. So: the application means we’re entering a new phase of preparation.
“Still, as with any first-ever launch, there are uncertainties and the schedule may evolve.”
A spokesman for SaxaVord Spaceport, which is at the northernmost tip of the inhabited part of the UK, said: “We’re hard at work supporting @rfa_space as they prepare for first test flight.
“Further details around launch timing will be shared through the appropriate channels closer to the time.”
In January 2025, RFA was officially licensed for spaceflight by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
SaxaVord Spaceport has also been granted a spaceport licence and a range control licence by the CAA, meaning the marine licence is the next stage in the regulatory approval process.
The Scottish Government’s marine directorate can issue licences for “marine deposit activities”.
A number of companies plan to use SaxaVord Spaceport as a hub for commercial rockets, hoping to tap into global demand for satellite launches.
