SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst in Shetland is set to mark a major milestone with its first rocket test flight from the UK's northernmost point. The spaceport has announced a five-week window, starting 10 August, for these critical tests, which will be carried out by German firm Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA).
The specific conditions for launch attempts have been outlined, allowing only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 16:00 and 20:00. Residents of Unst will receive at least 24 hours' notice of any scheduled test, with the company reassuring that restrictions won't be in place for the entire period.
Stringent safety measures are being put in place, including an exclusion zone around the spaceport and a section of sea to its north for four hours during each test attempt. A 'warning zone' extending towards Norway's Jan Mayen islands will also be established, leading to re-routed flights, while maritime and airspace users will receive updates from relevant authorities.
Temporary traffic orders will be implemented in north Unst to manage visitors, and local residents have been offered the chance to apply for vehicle passes. Scott Hammond, SaxaVord Spaceport's chief executive, has underlined the company's commitment to balancing operational and safety needs with its goal of being a 'good neighbour', adding that disruption to islanders will be kept to a minimum.
The incident in August 2024, when an RFA hot-fire test resulted in an engine explosion, causing damage to the launch platform and destroying the engine, serves as a reminder of the challenges involved. Despite this setback, the establishment of a dedicated launch window signals progress towards operational readiness for SaxaVord Spaceport and its partners.