U.K. Space Agency

Orbex to build Scottish launch site
Small launch vehicle developer Orbex announced Nov. 1 it had secured agreements to begin construction of a launch site in northern Scotland for its rocket that will allow a first launch by the end of 2023.

UK’s ‘Astra Carta’ movement sees space sustainability as chance to lead
The U.K. sees satellite servicing, debris removal and orbital sustainability as an opportunity to emerge as a major global space power.

The Great British Lift-Off
The countdown for the first orbital launch from the United Kingdom is underway. The latest developments.

Virgin Orbit moving ahead with U.K. launch plans
Virgin Orbit and the British government are continuing efforts to begin flights of the company’s air-launch system from an English airport by early 2022 despite challenges on both sides of the Atlantic.

Five decades after Black Arrow, a reawakening UK launch industry aims for bullseye
After years of efforts within the British government, and lobbying by the country’s space industry, the U.K. is taking steps to get back in the launch business.

British government to promote space industry exports
The British government announced July 19 a new effort to help space companies in the country win business outside of Europe amid concerns about the effects Brexit will have on the industry.

How a small Scottish town aims to transform commercial spaceflight
With the announcement that Scotland will be home to Britain's first spaceport, the U.K. is on the road to offering a one-stop-shop for building, operating and now launching satellites.

U.K. Space Industry Act to future-proof against Brexit
The U.K. Space Industry Act, passed last month, aims to "future-proof" the country’s space sector as it faces the challenging Brexit period while striving to become a major global space player.