UK’s future spaceport could launch 2,000 small satellites by 2030

A new report released by the UK Space Agency has revealed that the country’s upcoming spaceport at Sutherland in Scotland could launch as many as 2,000 commercial small satellites by 2030.

The report also suggests that the current ‘rideshare’ small satellite launches can fulfil less than 35% of the total demand, which can be met by future UK spaceports.

UK Business secretary Greg Clark said: “From our market leadership in small satellite construction to our world leading universities Scotland and the UK comes from a position of strength in the global space sector which will be turbo boosted by the first new spaceport and our Industrial Strategy.”

Last month, funding of £31.5m was announced by the UK Government to support the development of Sutherland spaceport.

Forming part of the UK’s Industrial Strategy, Sutherland spaceport will be developed to allow the UK to have a low-cost access to space.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will develop the Sutherland spaceport, which is expected to create around 400 new jobs due to several activities at the spaceport, inward investment, and supply chain opportunities.

The HIE Board previously approved an investment of up to £9.8m in the £17.2m Sutherland facility.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise Sutherland Spaceport development project director Roy Kirk said: “The international space sector is set to grow very significantly in the coming years. We want to ensure our businesses are ready to benefit from the opportunities this will create.

“Establishing this launch site will create local opportunities, with around 40 high-quality, skilled jobs in a fairly remote and rural part of Sutherland.

“Crucially, we believe it will also stimulate further related investment and business activity more widely across the Highlands and Islands and other parts of Scotland.”

In addition, the UK Space Agency previously committed a £2m scheme to support the horizontal launch of satellites.