Recent Activity
RFA ONE stage-2 explosion during static fire on 19 Aug 2024 reset the timeline; RFA confirmed early 2026 return-to-pad campaign in March 2026.
Investor Brief
First sovereign UK vertical-launch site post-Brexit, central to the UK's stated goal of becoming Europe's leading commercial small-launch market. Whoever flies first from SaxaVord captures the political tailwind.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Employees
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Region
Europe
Established
2,022
Launches / Year
0
Years Active
4
Strategic Position
60.8268° N, 0.8801° W
Azimuth: 0 deg-50 deg (north over the Norwegian Sea; SSO/polar only)
60.8 deg N — northernmost orbital launch site in Europe; direct injection into sun-synchronous and polar orbits without dogleg penalty
Future Milestones
- 2026
RFA ONE maiden orbital launch attempt (rescheduled post-August 2024 anomaly)
- 2026
HyImpulse SL1 hybrid-rocket inaugural launch
- 2027
Skyrora XL operational debut from SaxaVord
- 2028
Target cadence of 10-15 launches/year across three pads
About
SaxaVord Spaceport on the island of Unst in Shetland is the United Kingdom's first licensed vertical orbital launch site. Located at the northernmost point of the British Isles, it offers direct access to polar and sun-synchronous orbits with clear launch corridors over the North Sea and Norwegian Sea.
Key Features
UK's first licensed vertical orbital launch facility (CAA range license, Dec 2023)
Northernmost point in the British Isles — ideal for polar orbits
Clear launch corridors north over open ocean
Multiple launch pads planned for different vehicle providers
Former RAF Saxa Vord radar station repurposed for commercial space
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
RFA ONE stage-2 static fire / anomaly (August 2024) — destroyed first-stage hardware at the pad
Site licensed in 2022; first orbital attempt targeted 2026 with RFA ONE
Contracted with multiple launch providers including RFA, HyImpulse, and Skyrora
Upcoming Launches From This Site
Next missions scheduled to fly from SaxaVord Spaceport
- Provider
- Rocket Factory Augsburg
- Rocket
- RFA One
- NET
- Pad
- Launch Pad Fredo
- Provider
- Orbex
- Rocket
- Orbex Prime
- NET
- Pad
- Unknown Pad