Rocket engine explodes during test at Shetland spaceport
Lockheed Martin/ABL Space Systems is also planning orbital launches as part of the official UK Government Pathfinder launch.
The SaxaVord Spaceport, a former RAF radar station, is co-owned by Frank and Debbie Strang.
They bought the site 15 years ago with initial plans to turn it into an eco-tourism attraction.
The space industry in the UK is estimated to be worth £17.5bn and supports about 48,800 jobs at 2,200 firms.
Cornwall Spaceport was the UK’s first licensed spaceport, however its rockets are launched horizontally carried by an aircraft.
Scotland currently has five proposed spaceports under development, with the Sutherland Spaceport also under construction with ambitions of launching 12 rockets into orbit per year.
A further spaceport is planned on North Uist, with both Glasgow Prestwick and Spaceport Machrihanish hoping to join the space race and conduct horizontal orbital launches in the future.
