Construction of the UK’s first vertical launch spaceport could begin later this month after it received planning approval from the local authority, its developers have said.
SaxaVord UK Spaceport said approval by Shetland Islands Council provides Scottish ministers with a 28-day window to review the application. If they choose not to call the application in for review, or call it in and agree that the project should proceed, construction of the £43m spaceport can begin.
The developers described planning approval as ‘monumental in supporting the UK’s ambitions of becoming a global science superpower and establishing the UK as the European hub for commercial spaceflight’. they added: ‘Timelines are tight with the target of delivering the first orbital launch from UK soil after the third quarter of this year.’
© Shetland Flyer Aerial Media
CEO Frank Strang said: ‘We have been working on bringing the space economy to Shetland for five years, so it is fantastic that the economic benefits are already being felt.
‘We will spend upwards of £43m over the next 18 months, rising to £100m in the next five years.
‘Our team will collectively do everything in its power to ensure we can deliver this historic mission for Shetland, Scotland, and the UK.’
The privately-funded spaceport will consist of three launchpads at the Lamba Ness peninsula in Unst, allowing for the launch of small satellites into either polar or sun-synchronous, low-earth orbits.
The site has an ambition of achieving up to 30 launch events per year by a range of launch service providers supporting industries and services including telecommunications, media, weather and defence.
Mr Strang said his team had received a tremendous amount of support from the people of Unst, ‘and without that support would have struggled to maintain momentum’.
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