A planned test rocket launch from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland has been postponed due to a technical issue. The launch window, which was set to begin Monday and extend for five weeks, will not be utilized by the launch company, according to a spokesperson.
SaxaVord Spaceport confirmed that temporary traffic orders associated with the launch window have been placed on hold until further notice. This means there will be no launch-related restrictions in place between August 10 and September 14. The company expressed gratitude to the community for its ongoing patience and support.
This development follows a previous incident in August 2024, where a test known as a hot-fire by the same company, RFA, resulted in an engine explosion at the SaxaVord site. IMAGE3: An aerial view of a long flat peninsula surrounded by dark blue sea. The coastline is rocky and the sky is blue. The island is brown and sparsely populated by several industrial buildings and a tall launch pad. IMAGE3: The bottom of a rocket engine firing flames and smoke into a chamber.
SaxaVord, located in Unst, the northernmost point of the UK, aims to become a launch site for small commercial rockets. RFA was anticipated to be the first company to launch from the facility, but its plans are now uncertain. IMAGE1: An aerial view of a long flat peninsula surrounded by dark blue sea. The coastline is rocky and the sky is blue. The island is brown and sparsely populated by several industrial buildings and a tall launch pad.
Another company, HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, has an agreement to launch its SR75 suborbital launch vehicle from Shetland later this year. This would mark the second flight for their vehicle, following a successful launch in Australia. IMAGE2: Map showing SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst one of the Shetland islands. It's location on a map of the UK is also highlighted