Forres-based Orbex has received €7.45 million of co-funding from ESA while Edinburgh-based Skyora has secured €3m.

The funding was awarded to the firms through its Boost! Commercial Space Transportation Services and Support (C-STS) programme, designed to support commercially sustainable space transportation services in Europe.

The funding not only represents a significant support of Skyrora’s ambitions as a pioneer in the sector but puts it on track to be the first UK company to launch satellites from Europe, delivering the UK’s sovereign space launch capability – a key Government ambition.

The funding will be used by Skyrora to complete the crucial technology required to deliver consistent orbital launches from the UK with Skyrora’s XL launch vehicle.

Skyrora XL is a 23-meter 56-tonne three-stage rocket capable of carrying up to 315 kg into orbit. The vehicle is on course to be test-launched in 2022 from a UK spaceport. This project plans to create over 170 high-skilled jobs in the UK.

The Boost! contract was awarded to Orbex following an in-depth evaluation process, assessing Orbex’s commercial strategy, financial stability and technical progress. This is the largest award made to date by the programme. Orbex will supplement the funding with an additional €4.7m in matching private investment.

The funds from the award will go towards the completion of spaceflight systems in preparation for the first launches of Orbex’s 19-metre ‘microlauncher’ rocket, Prime. €11.25m of the total funding will be assigned to work undertaken in the UK, in particular the lightweight avionics designed in-house by Orbex in Forres, and the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) software subsystem being designed by Elecnor Deimos, a strategic investor and partner of Orbex.

The remaining €900,000 of the total funding package will support the development of the GNC for the orbital phase being developed by Elecnor Deimos for Orbex in Portugal.

The Boost! funding will support the creation of a significant number of new jobs in the UK, in particular at the Orbex headquarters in Forres. As Orbex prepares for its first UK Pathfinder launch, the company has ramped up its recruitment efforts, most recently hiring a new Head of GNC with experience from several European spaceflight programmes.

Orbex has already signed six commercial customers for satellite launches, with the first launch expected in 2022 from Orbex’s carbon-neutral home spaceport, Space Hub Sutherland on the A’Mhoine peninsula in Scotland. Planning permission for the spaceport was granted in August 2020, with construction expected to begin in 2021. Space Hub Sutherland is currently the only vertical launch spaceport in the UK that has received planning permission.

Chris Larmour, CEO of Orbex, said: “We very much appreciate the investment in new, commercially-focused microlauncher technologies from ESA’s new Boost! programme. we’re especially grateful for the strong support we received from the UK Space Agency and the Portuguese Space Agency, PT Space. Orbex´s environmentally sustainable microlaunchers will soon be launching for the first time from the UK, and ESA’s recognition of the commercial and scientific opportunities this brings to Europe is significant.”

Volodymyr Levykin, founder and CEO of Skyrora, added: “This ESA contract will accelerate Skyrora’s progress on its journey to be the first to achieve the UK’s sovereign orbital launch.

“I am delighted that the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency support our programme, which has, to date, delivered outstanding achievements - four successful launches, with two more ready for launch; the establishment of manufacturing and engine test facilities throughout Scotland; and the static fire test of our orbital third stage. ESA’s support, approved by the UK Space Agency through the Boost! programme will lead us to flight readiness of Skyrora XL in 2022.

“ESA’s funding will allow us to complete the set up of our larger Engine Test Complex, complete our 70kN engine programme and static fire test fire the first and second stages of Skyrora XL.

“Our pioneering work on championing environmental spaceflight, our proprietary eco-fuel and green innovations - together with the support of the European Space Agency and UK Space Agency - will help establish the UK not only as a world leader in space technology but the greenest space industry in the world too.”

Thilo Kranz, commercial space transportation programme manager at the European Space Agency, commented: “During the evaluation process that preceded this award, we examined Orbex’s service proposal in detail and developed an appreciation for the underlying technical concept as well as the entrepreneurial and commercial approach.

“There is excitement and momentum in European spaceflight and privately led initiatives, like the one from Orbex, are going to be a critical component of the long-term success of the European space industry.”