UK Progress Atlas
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Skyrora COO Jack-James Marlow told Payload that the company is tentatively aiming for an orbital launch in 2030, following an earlier optimistic forecast of late 2026. The date applies to Skyrora’s rocket programme. SaxaVord’s other operators have separate launch schedules.
The Civil Aviation Authority has licensed HyImpulse UK to launch its SR75 vehicle from SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst. The licence is dated 28 September and was published in the CAA’s register on 1 October. It permits suborbital flights, normally one launch per twelve months, subject to insurance, range-safety and other conditions being satisfied before flight.
Skyrora has completed a 45-second static hot-fire test of a scaled-down XL rocket at Machrihanish in Argyll and Bute. The company says the test gathered data on integrated propulsion and vehicle subsystems ahead of scaling up. This is a development demonstration, not an orbital launch, and does not alter the separately reported tentative 2030 orbital-launch forecast. The report does not establish the exact test day.
More developments
Imperial has refurbished a cleanroom for assembling and testing space-flight instruments. The facility supports its magnetometers for HelioSwarm and Vigil and includes a microscope for detecting component defects.
The RAF has formed No. III Space Effects Squadron to counter hostile activity targeting UK satellites. The unit brings together specialist personnel and is intended to support offensive and defensive space operations, including electronic warfare. Its capabilities will expand as new systems enter service.
UK-headquartered Open Cosmos closed a €300 million funding round to expand satellite mass-manufacturing and accelerate its secure-connectivity and real-time intelligence services across its UK and European operations.