Residents of Unst, the UK's most northerly inhabited island, are set to receive priority access to witness historic space rocket launches, with the first test flight anticipated this summer.
The SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst is gearing up for its inaugural test launch in the coming months, featuring a rocket developed by German firm RFA.
The Shetland Islands facility has confirmed a limited number of viewing passes for a designated remote area, which will first be offered to Unst's approximately 600 inhabitants.
A livestream will also be available for wider public viewing of these test flights and subsequent commercial launches.
Several companies are slated to utilise SaxaVord as a launchpad for their commercial rockets, with regulatory requirements dictating that launches must occur within specific, multi-week windows.
The launch attempts would take place within certain hours of specified days and an exclusion zone would be in place.
The spaceport says those who are not able to get a viewing pass should avoid a trip to Unst and instead watch online.
Chief executive Scott Hammond said: “We expect to see a test flight by our client RFA this summer, although the final timings are still being negotiated with all the relevant authorities.
“Clearly, this is hugely exciting and testament to all the hard work done by RFA and by our team here at SaxaVord.
“It is important to us that Unst residents have first refusal on the limited number of viewing spaces that will be available, given that they have been most impacted by the building of the spaceport and will be most affected on launch days.
“Due to the fact that this will be a test flight and the length of the launch window, if you live out-with Shetland I would recommend that you watch it on the livestream rather than bear the cost and time involved with travelling here only to be disappointed.”
Last month a Scottish company which hoped to use the spaceport for satellite launches, Orbex, fell into administration.
However this will not affect the plans from Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA).
A large “umbilical tower” was recently constructed on the company’s launch pad at SaxaVord, which will supply the rocket when it arrives at the site.
Unst residents to have first call on seats to view spaceport’s rocket launches
How objects in space could disrupt your sleep cycle
Scientists reveal one key way we might have missed signals from aliens
Nasa robot returning to US for Mars trip after decade of research in Scotland
NASA crashes spacecraft into asteroid to push it off course in landmark defense test
