Insider Brief
- Britain is investing nearly £25 million in Orbex to build and launch the country’s first domestically built orbital rocket from Scotland in late 2025.
- The UK government aims to capture 2% of Europe’s satellite launch market, estimated at $50 billion by 2033, potentially adding £1 billion to the economy.
- The investment follows a failed 2023 launch attempt and complements Britain’s broader strategy to develop a sovereign satellite launch capability.
Britain is investing nearly £25 million in Orbex to build and launch the country’s first domestically built orbital rocket, the government announced. The mission, scheduled for late 2025, is part of a broader push to establish the UK as a European hub for satellite launches.
The rocket, called Prime, will lift off from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands. If successful, it would mark a milestone for Britain’s space sector, which employs 52,000 people and is a leading satellite manufacturer outside the United States, according to Reuters.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the Orbex launch would “turbocharge” Britain’s position in the global space industry.
“By investing £20 million in this rocket launch, we are not only helping the country to become a leading destination for small satellite launches in Europe but bringing highly skilled jobs and investment to communities and organisations across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change,” Kyle said in a statement. “Supporting Orbex’s launch will also turbocharge the country’s position in the space sector and inspire our next generation of space professionals, who will be able to design, test, build and launch British rockets, carrying British satellites, from British soil.”
The government expects the investment to help the UK capture at least 2% of Europe’s satellite launch market, which it estimates could be worth $50 billion over the next decade, as reported by Reuters. Even a small foothold, officials said, could bring in about $1 billion for the British economy.
The move is part of a growing effort to compete in the commercial space industry, where smaller, privately built rockets are in high demand. Britain’s ambitions to establish a domestic launch capability took a hit in early 2023 when a Virgin Orbit rocket, launched from a modified Boeing 747 in Cornwall, failed to reach orbit, Reuters reports. That attempt, the UK’s first horizontal launch, was meant to kickstart an industry that has so far relied on launching satellites from other countries.
The new effort focuses on vertical rocket launches, a more traditional method used by major spacefaring nations. Orbex has already raised private funding, and the government’s backing signals growing confidence in the company’s ability to deliver.
The UK is not betting on a single provider. Earlier this month, the government granted permission for Germany’s Rocket Factory Augsburg to launch from the same Scottish site, further positioning SaxaVord as a competitive launch location. according to Reuters.
Britain’s investment in Prime reflects a broader shift toward establishing sovereign launch capabilities. While the country has expertise in building satellites, it has relied on international partnerships for launches. The push to develop a domestic option could make the UK a preferred destination for companies looking to deploy small satellites without waiting for slots on larger rockets abroad.
Reuters reported that Prime’s development is part of Britain’s strategy to secure a foothold in the fast-growing space economy. The government views satellite technology as critical for everything from national security to climate monitoring and internet connectivity.
If Orbex succeeds, experts suggest the launch will mark a turning point for Britain’s space sector, giving it a homegrown rocket for the first time — one that could pave the way for more frequent and commercially viable launches from UK soil.
Share this article:
