HyImpulse to Bring Own Rail to SaxaVord After UK Agency
SaxaVord Spaceport abandoned a UK-funded launch rail project, forcing HyImpulse to supply its own system for an October suborbital rocket launch from
SaxaVord Spaceport has abandoned a UK government-funded project to build a shared suborbital launch rail. German rocket company HyImpulse will now bring its own launch infrastructure to the Scottish site for the second flight of its SR75 rocket, potentially as early as October 5.
A SaxaVord spokesperson confirmed to European Spaceflight that the Project SkyReach initiative has been terminated. The UK Space Agency had awarded £378,000 for the project in December 2022. Its goal was a rail capable of supporting rockets weighing up to three tonnes. Only a minimal amount of that funding, less than £10,000, was used for design work before the project was paused and later scrapped.
"The project was abandoned," the spokesperson said. The UK Space Agency's 2023/24 annual report had listed it as an undelivered milestone. SaxaVord has yet to host any launch, orbital or suborbital.
HyImpulse's SHARP-Funded Solution
For its upcoming mission, HyImpulse will provide the necessary hardware. The company developed a new launch rail itself, funded through a separate UK Space Agency-backed project. This initiative is called the Sustainable Hybrid: Accelerated Rocket Programme, or SHARP.
"The launch rail intended for use by HyImpulse was developed by HyImpulse and funded through the SHARP programme," a company spokesperson confirmed. In July 2024, HyImpulse received just under £5 million for SHARP as part of a broader £33 million UK Space Agency funding package. The SaxaVord spokesperson noted that concrete and fittings are already in place at Launch Pad 3, ready for the rail's arrival.
The SR75 Mission Profile
The flight will involve HyImpulse's 11-metre SR75 rocket. It uses a paraffin and liquid oxygen hybrid propulsion system. The suborbital vehicle is designed to carry payloads to the edge of space.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rocket | HyImpulse SR75 |
| Height | 11 metres |
| Propulsion | Paraffin and liquid oxygen hybrid |
| Payload Capacity | Up to 250 kilograms |
| Target Altitude | Approximately 200 kilometres |
| Splashdown Zone | ~135 km north of SaxaVord |
Its first flight occurred in May 2024 from the Koonibba Test Range in Australia. Maritime and aviation notices outline a potential launch window from SaxaVord between October 5 and 18.
UK Strategy and SaxaVord's Role
The development follows the UK government's recent Space Strategy. It identifies assured access to space as a national priority. The strategy commits to developing robust domestic launch infrastructure, centering on SaxaVord as the primary site for polar and sun-synchronous orbital missions. This focus includes a pledge to invest £30 million in the spaceport to accelerate its readiness for regular orbital launches.
The UK Space Agency was contacted for comment on the scrapped rail project but had not responded by the time of European Spaceflight's publication.
