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Red tape could ‘jeopardise’ Shetland space launch plans, expert warns
Dr Alex Simmonds warns UK licensing gaps and regulatory caution risk losing satellite launch business to foreign competitors, impacting Scotland’s growing space economy.
- On Unst, SaxaVord is the UK’s only licensed vertical launch spaceport in Shetland, but plans to launch rockets there could be jeopardised if the UK licensing regime is inadequate.
- The Space Industry Act 2018 and Space Industry Regulations 2021 govern high-altitude launches above the stratosphere, while some low-level rockets require Civil Aviation Authority permission, creating regulatory complexity.
- University of Dundee’s Dr Alex Simmonds warned the UK risks losing business overseas without clearer rules, noting the �2.8 billion investment allocation to the UK Space Agency benefits Scotland’s growing space economy.
- A UK Government spokesperson said the government is committed to the sector and will work with industry to keep the UK attractive for business, while companies may look elsewhere if launch plans are jeopardised.
- There is no international agreement on where space begins, complicating regulation, and Mars signal delay example — about 24 minutes — raises questions for legislators and safety considerations.
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Red tape fears as expert warns Shetland spaceport could lose launch race
Plans to send rockets into orbit from Shetland’s SaxaVord spaceport could be put at risk if the UK’s licensing regime proves too cumbersome, a leading space law specialist has warned. SaxaVord, on the island of Unst, is the UK’s only licensed vertical launch site, with several companies lining up satellite missions and the first blast‑off expected in 2026. Dr Alex Simmonds, from the University of Dundee, said the UK’s space launch sector faces …
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Total News Sources12
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 40%
C 60%
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