Britain blasted off into the space race for the first time in 50 years today when a test rocket took off in the Highlands.
The Skyrora completed a full ground static fire trial with the Skylark-L – the UK’s first vertical test of this magnitude since the Black Arrow Programme in the late 1960s and early 70s.
The need for social distancing brought extra challenges, “all of which were handled expertly by all the team” said Skyrora boss Volodymyr Levykin.
He added: “This was a mammoth effort in very trying circumstances, so it is quite an achievement to be proud of.”
After the successful test at Kildemorie Estate near Alness, close to the Cromarty Firth, the Skylark-L could be ready to launch from a British spaceport as early as next spring.
Mr Levykin said: “We see this as the first significant step towards reaching space from our own soil.
"We are now in a full state of readiness for launch. It’s this milestone that is the start of the UK’s new space revolution.”
The Skylark-L is the firm’s first sub-orbital flight vehicle and is capable of reaching a height of around 62 miles, carrying a load of up to around nine and a half stone.
It is the firm’s first sub-orbital flight vehicle and is capable of reaching a height of around 62 miles (100km), carrying a load of up to 60kg.
The team built the mobile launch complex within five days.
It was made up of several modules including a command centre, oxidiser and fuel handing containers and a compressed gas container.
