The European Commission (EC) has approved the UK Government’s plan to grant £50m to Reaction Engines’ SABRE space launcher engine programme.

The SABRE engine will be designed to power a reusable airframe that can launch satellites into low-Earth orbit, and reduce the costs of such space missions.

The engine enables a launch vehicle to reach orbital velocity and altitude from the Earth’s surface without jettisoning any hardware.

EC identified that the grant is in-line with EU state aid rules, and will accelerate aerospace R&D in Europe.

"It can lead to significant technological advances that would benefit consumers using products and services depending on these satellites."

EC Commissioner in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager said: "The funding supports crucial R&D in the challenging area of satellite launches into low-Earth orbit, the most difficult and costly step in any space mission.

"It can lead to significant technological advances that would benefit consumers using products and services depending on these satellites, such as mobile communications, broadcasting and navigation."

The agency assessed the project under its 2014 framework on state aid for research, development and innovation (R&D&I).

It concluded that in order to reach completion, the project would require additional funding to that raised through private equity investors, due to the lack of knowledge about the associated risks and opportunities.

In January, the UK Government unveiled plans to support the SABRE design, engineering and assembling of engine components for a new space launcher.

The engine is planned to be used on the SKYLON prototype for flights into low-Earth orbit.