Scottish rocket company, Skyrora has hired SpaceX veteran Lee Rosen to the role of Chief Operations Officer as the firm looks towards a maiden launch from British soil.

Lee Rosen, Colonel, US Air Force (retired), ex-Vice President of Mission and Launch Operations and Customer Operations and Integration at SpaceX, will soon take up the role.

Rosen boasts a long list of achievements, with previous experience as a SpaceX veteran of over 150 missions. He will provide Skyrora with extensive operational expertise as the firm aims to be the first UK company to launch from British soil.

The Scottish rocket startup aims to conduct 16 launches per year from the Saxavord launch complex in the Shetland Islands alone by 2030.

Previously, Rosen has built experience as an engineer, space operator, and acquisition professional. He spent 23 years in the US Air Force with Command tours at both launch bases, Vandenberg Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral, prior to joining SpaceX.

He began his role at SpaceX as a launch site director, leading on the construction of the Vandenberg launch site for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. He then led the team responsible for launch operations and then government, civil and commercial mission management and the team that operated, and trained astronauts to fly the Dragon spacecraft.

Commenting on his role, Rosen said: “With Skyrora leading the way in UK launch and building infrastructure for the future of the UK’s space economy, it’s an exciting time to join the company. Currently, the UK is completely reliant on the US and, although this is a crucial relationship, Skyrora is building towards a future when space capabilities in this country will allow for regular sovereign launches.

“Space capability is now critical to providing an edge when it comes to defence. Skyrora’s mobile, agile and responsive launch and on-orbit capability can provide the UK with something it has been missing and bolster its special relationship with the US. Additionally, we’re setting an example for the space industry with a responsible and sustainable attitude towards spaceflight.

“We need to ensure that our environment is cared for. This doesn’t just mean launching remote sensing and Earth observation satellites but ensuring that space companies are planning their launches and manufacturing with sustainability both on earth and in outer space at the core.”

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Founder and CEO Volodymyr Levykin said: “Developing sovereign, mobile and sustainably focused launch services is of the utmost importance for the UK’s ability to follow through on its commitments to address climate change, provide cutting edge defence capabilities, and fulfil its potential in the emerging global space economy.

“Having completed some 200 launches over the course of his career, we’re delighted that Lee has joined Skyrora and offering his unparalleled leadership and expertise to the team as we continue to hit crucial milestones in our push towards a maiden launch from UK soil.”

Rosen is the second high-profile space specialist employed by Skyrora to help steer the company. In July 2020, the firm announced that British Astronaut Tim Peake was appointed to the advisory board of Scottish space startup.

Like Rosen, Peake joined the Edinburgh firm during an exciting period as it continues development of the Skyrora XL rocket to provide orbital launches by 2023.

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