Scottish rocket maker Skyrora has received a space launch licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the first UK company to get this green light.
Under the licence, the Glasgow-headquartered outfit is allowed to carry out up to 16 launches a year from the SaxaVord Spaceport, which is situated on the island of Unst.
Led by Ukrainian-born founder Volodymyr Levykin, Skyrora has been licensed to launch and operate its sub-orbital, single-stage Skylark L rocket from the Shetland island spaceport, the UK’s only fully-licensed vertical launch spaceport.
In 2022, after a failed launch for Skylark in Iceland, Skyora said it was aiming to launch its larger XL orbital rocket at SaxaVord spaceport in 2023, before being hit by delays. In April this year, the company said it was "closing in" on a test site to conduct first-stage fire testing.
The CAA said the licensing approval process looked at safety and environmental mitigations around the planned launches, with further monitoring to be carried out in the build-up to, and during launch, while the company will need to satisfy conditions ranging from adequate insurance, a data sharing agreement with the UK government and airspace agreements with other countries.
Once those conditions are met, the regulator said Skyrora will be able to determine its launch schedule based on its technical and operational readiness.
Powered by 3D-printed, hydrogen peroxide-kerosene engines, the Skylark L rocket flies a 50kg payload at 950 metres a second, or almost three times the speed of sound, to reach its 102 km apogee altitude in 225 seconds, according to the company's website.
Levykin said: "Becoming the first UK company to receive its vertical launch operator licence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Skyrora. It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities."
He said the company is looking forward to "achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all".
"Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation," said CAA chief executive Rob Bishton.
“Our work as the UK’s space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it."
UK Space Agency CEO Paul Bate said the granting of a first launch licence to a UK rocket company "demonstrates the growing strength of our domestic launch capabilities, and the thriving commercial space economy we are building across the country.
"With companies like Skyrora, we're positioning Britain as the natural choice for customers seeking reliable, cost-effective access to space from European soil."
Skyrora is the second launch operator to have a licence to launch from the spaceport, following SaxaVord agreement with German company Rocket Factory Augsburg, which received its UK CAA launch licence in January.