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UK company reveals micro-launcher rocket:
Orbex's Prime rocket reaching technical readiness represents a significant achievement that brings together key elements of the ground infrastructure and prototype launch vehicle for the first time and is a major step forward for the company and for the U.K. launch industry.
[...] Orbex Prime will launch from Space Hub Sutherland, a new spaceport on the North Coast of Scotland. Space Hub Sutherland was the first vertical spaceport to receive planning permission in the U.K. and has committed to being carbon-neutral, both in its construction and operation.
[...] Orbex Prime is a 19-meter long, two-stage rocket that is powered by seven engines, that is being designed and manufactured in the U.K. and Denmark. The six rocket engines on the first stage of the rocket will propel the vehicle through the atmosphere to an altitude of around 80km. The single engine on the second stage of the rocket will complete the journey to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), allowing the release of its payload of small, commercial satellites into Earth's orbit.
Chris Larmour, CEO, Orbex, said: "This is a major milestone for Orbex and highlights just how far along our development path we now are. From the outside, it might look like an ordinary rocket, but on the inside, Prime is unlike anything else. To deliver the performance and environmental sustainability we wanted from a 21st century rocket we had to innovate in a wide number of areas—low-carbon fuels, fully 3D-printed rocket engines, very lightweight fuel tanks, and a novel, low-mass reusability technology."
Slick Orbex Space promo video on YouTube
They're not making it easy on themselves launching from 58 degrees latitude.
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(Score: 5, Insightful) by janrinok on Friday May 13, @12:04PM (1 child)
That is an interesting link - thank you.
If you look at the UK, Orbex has 2 sites. One in the north of Scotland and the other in the SW of England. This is the limit imposed by the size of the UK.
The Kinloss site in Scotland is well positioned for testing purposes. It is a former military airfield , currently an army base so has some features of security, it has good communication links and it is on the coast. Experimental launches over the sea are far safer than launches over land where any failure is likely to cause more damage and pose a risk to people. It is also easily accessible by the partner nation Denmark.
We are always looking for new staff in different areas - please volunteer if you have some spare time and wish to help
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday May 13, @02:53PM
I.E. launching away from civilization is best.
As opposed to doing things like China does:
https://www.space.com/china-launches-gaofen-11-satellite-rocket-crash.html [space.com]
https://www.space.com/chinese-rocket-launch-drops-debris-on-homes.html [space.com]
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