“We welcome this further €5.6m extension of funding from the European Space Agency’s Boost programme,” Orbex chief executive Phil Chambers said.
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“The initial award made in 2020 has helped us to progress the development of our spaceflight systems. This funding extension will enable us to make the vital next step in our journey as we move towards our inaugural launch of our micro-launcher, Orbex Prime next year; these programmes are vital to help realise our shared goal of making the UK a central hub for European space flight.”
The programme is designed to support commercially sustainable space transportation services in Europe. The Boost contract extension follows a £16.7m funding round completed earlier this year, with total funds raised to date by the business now topping £106m.
Orbex is in the final stages of developing Prime, its 19-metre-long rocket designed to take small satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits. It has been engineered to leave zero debris in orbit and is fuelled by renewable bio-propane, meaning it has a carbon footprint up to 96% lower than traditional satellite launch vehicles powered by fossil fuels.
Today’s news was announced at the opening of Space Tech Expo Europe in Breman, Germany, and follows the gathering of industry leaders at Space-Comm Expo Scotland, which was held in Glasgow in September.
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Toni Tolker Nielsen, director of space transportation for the ESA, said: “Europe’s emerging commercial launch service providers are pushing towards their first launches, we are very interested to see their rockets deliver, diversifying the European launch services on offer.”
Matt Archer, director of launch at the UK Space Agency, added: “This new investment in Orbex through ESA’s Boost programme highlights the government’s commitment to securing a UK launch capability.
“It will enable Orbex to accelerate the production of its Prime launch vehicle, supporting high-skilled jobs in Scotland and paving the way for their first launch attempt next year.”
