ESA gives UK space an £8.5m Boost: Rocketeers eye a 2022 launch
(2021/03/25)
- Reference: 1616672705
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/03/25/esa_uksa_boost/
- Source link:
Scotland-based rocketeers are set to receive £8.5m in funding under the European Space Agency's (ESA) Boost! initiative.
The two contracts, for Orbex (which nabbed £6m) and Skyrora (which picked up the remaining £2.5m) are intended to help the companies develop their launch technologies ahead of a long sought domestic commercial vertical launch capability from the shores of the UK.
[1]
Orbex is proposing to send up to 150kg to low earth orbit atop its Prime launcher from Space Hub Sutherland in Scotland's A'Mhoine peninsula. The first launch, [2]according to ESA , "is expected in 2022."
The UK Space Agency [3]put that first launch in 2023 as it welcomed the funding.
[4]
While Orbex's award represents the largest dispensed under the Boost! initiative to date (although a small portion of the funding will be spent on work in Portugal) the £2.5m for Skyrora will be more than welcome as the company edges closer to orbital launch. The money will be put toward completing the development of the Skyrora XL launcher, capable of launching over 300kg and due for a 2022 test flight from a UK spaceport.
"The UK invested £12m into the Boost! programme in 2019, one of the largest investments from ESA member states," said the UK Space Agency. The first three contracts under the programme were [5]signed by ESA last year giving funding to three German New Space companies: HyImpulse Technologies, Isar Aerospace Technologies, and Rocket Factory Augsburg.
The trio are developing separate launchers capable of lofting small payloads. Rocket Factory Augsburg also has the backing of German Satellite manufacturer OHB.
[6]
As for the UK, funding and technology aside, there are still hurdles to overcome before either Scotland-based company can light the blue touchpaper. A regulatory and guidance framework is still required from lawmakers to permit a 2022 launch from UK soil. ®
Get our [7]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YFzBvSRgMqE9JqH0luJVsgAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/ESA_boost_for_UK_space_transportation_initiatives
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-based-space-companies-secure-85-million-to-bring-pioneering-launch-technologies-to-market
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YFzBvSRgMqE9JqH0luJVsgAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/ESA_signs_first_Boost!_commercial_space_transportation_contracts
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YFzBvSRgMqE9JqH0luJVsgAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The two contracts, for Orbex (which nabbed £6m) and Skyrora (which picked up the remaining £2.5m) are intended to help the companies develop their launch technologies ahead of a long sought domestic commercial vertical launch capability from the shores of the UK.
[1]
Orbex is proposing to send up to 150kg to low earth orbit atop its Prime launcher from Space Hub Sutherland in Scotland's A'Mhoine peninsula. The first launch, [2]according to ESA , "is expected in 2022."
The UK Space Agency [3]put that first launch in 2023 as it welcomed the funding.
[4]
While Orbex's award represents the largest dispensed under the Boost! initiative to date (although a small portion of the funding will be spent on work in Portugal) the £2.5m for Skyrora will be more than welcome as the company edges closer to orbital launch. The money will be put toward completing the development of the Skyrora XL launcher, capable of launching over 300kg and due for a 2022 test flight from a UK spaceport.
"The UK invested £12m into the Boost! programme in 2019, one of the largest investments from ESA member states," said the UK Space Agency. The first three contracts under the programme were [5]signed by ESA last year giving funding to three German New Space companies: HyImpulse Technologies, Isar Aerospace Technologies, and Rocket Factory Augsburg.
The trio are developing separate launchers capable of lofting small payloads. Rocket Factory Augsburg also has the backing of German Satellite manufacturer OHB.
[6]
As for the UK, funding and technology aside, there are still hurdles to overcome before either Scotland-based company can light the blue touchpaper. A regulatory and guidance framework is still required from lawmakers to permit a 2022 launch from UK soil. ®
Get our [7]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YFzBvSRgMqE9JqH0luJVsgAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/ESA_boost_for_UK_space_transportation_initiatives
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-based-space-companies-secure-85-million-to-bring-pioneering-launch-technologies-to-market
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YFzBvSRgMqE9JqH0luJVsgAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/ESA_signs_first_Boost!_commercial_space_transportation_contracts
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YFzBvSRgMqE9JqH0luJVsgAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "150kg to low earth orbit"
Yet Another Anonymous coward
Aimed at beating a 2023 DLR mission which will put down towels in orbit
Re: "150kg to low earth orbit"
Phil O'Sophical
They've extended the DLR to space? Can I still use my Oyster card?
Re: "150kg to low earth orbit"
Anonymous Coward
DLR = Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt = German NASA
50 years after the UK developed a space launch system...
Red Ted
...we start all over again.
Well, good luck to them!
"...and due for a 2022 test flight from a UK spaceport."
Little Mouse
Construction of the Sutherland Spaceport hasn't actually started yet, has it? Hopefully it'll be ready in time.
Re: Sutherland
Anonymous Coward
I suppose it's only fitting that the appropriate Law [1] is also not currently ready yet...
.
.
[1] Yes, yes, I know, "regulatory and guidance framework", but the obscure TV show reference only works with "law". Unless someone has a way of making a viscosity remark instead...
That's a wad 'o bucks!
Gene Cash
So they can buy what... half a spacesuit?
Re: That's a wad 'o bucks!
Yet Another Anonymous coward
That's why it's being launched from Scotland - the space kilt is much cheaper.
Of course a Geordie spacesuit is the simplest of all
"150kg to low earth orbit"
Manned UK flight should be coming soon. That's almost as much as a single British holidaymaker.