SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland has secured £30m in UK government investment, announced as part of a new national space strategy. A spaceport spokesperson described the funding as a "hugely significant" vote of confidence, anticipating it will unlock a further £30m of private investment.
The combined £60m public-private investment package is intended for the design and construction of a second hangar and two additional launchpads. SaxaVord, the UK's first fully-licensed spaceport, has regulatory approval for up to 30 rocket launches annually.
The UK government stated that the new space strategy aims to "drive growth, strengthen security and back the technologies that underpin modern life." Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander noted that Scotland already produces more satellites than anywhere else in Europe, and the investment positions SaxaVord to deliver up to three-quarters of Europe's orbital launch slots.
Two German companies, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and HyImpulse Technologies GmbH (HyImpulse), have signed launch agreements with SaxaVord. RFA is working towards its first vertical orbital test flight from the UK, while HyImpulse plans the second flight of its SR75 suborbital launch vehicle from Shetland this year. The investment is subject to due diligence and final sign-off.