Scottish Skyrora Secures First UK Vertical Launch Licence

Skyrora, a Scottish space company headquartered in Glasgow with manufacturing in Cumbernauld, has become the first UK-based rocket firm to receive a vertical launch operator licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This licence authorizes Skyrora to operate its suborbital Skylark L rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, permitting up to 16 launches annually, subject to meeting several conditions including insurance and airspace agreements. Skylark L is a single-stage, 11-12 meter rocket capable of reaching altitudes of approximately 310 miles, crossing into space but not achieving orbit, with a payload capacity of up to 50 kilograms, aimed at providing lower-cost microgravity experiment platforms. Despite the licence, Skyrora currently faces challenges as no launch pads are available at SaxaVord this year, prompting the company to explore alternatives such as the Sutherland Spaceport. The achievement marks a major milestone for the UK’s space sector, the first such licence granted to a home-grown company, and reflects broader ambitions for sovereign launch capabilities and economic growth in the UK's emerging space industry. Skyrora’s CEO, Volodymyr Levykin, emphasized the importance of the licence for commercial and strategic defense purposes, expressing pride in leading UK launch efforts and anticipating a reliable commercial program that benefits the nation.