A commercial rocket launch took place on Thursday August 26th from a launch site in the Outer Hebrides, a historic first for the UK space industry.

The launch was performed by wholly owned British company Gravitilab Aerospace Services alongside the Scottish Spaceport 1 team. Together, they launched the flight test vehicle ‘ADA’, named after trailblazing mathematician Ada Lovelace, who is considered the world’s first computer programmer.

ADA took off from Benbecula Airport, marking a successful launch for Spaceport 1, the consortium led by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).

Spaceport 1 Programme Director Mark Roberts said: “This is a historic moment for Spaceport 1, the Outer Hebrides, Scotland and the UK. Our unique partnership with Gravitilab allows us to improve our procedures and progress towards a viable spaceport in North Uist.

“It opens up not only a route to space for inclusive, enterprising ventures like Gravitilab, but also offers this remote area of Scotland a chance to build a thriving business, bringing much-needed quality jobs to this region.”

Successful collaboration

For Spaceport 1, this offers the opportunity to become a viable commercial spaceport, as it looks to complete its site at Scolpaig, North Uist by 2022, with full commercial operations commencing in the same year.

Gravitilab aims to make space more accessible by providing reliable and affordable microgravity research and testing services.

ADA is the company’s first rocket designed to offer this, and the sub-orbital launch at Benbecula Airport is part of the company’s ongoing development programme.

Technical Director at Gravitilab Aerospace Rob Adlard said: “This launch is a hugely significant moment for Gravitilab. We have launched rockets before, but ADA is a step change for us as it is the rocket that is going provide a template for a future scaled-up programme that will significantly enhance our space access and microgravity service.

“Our work is offering microgravity as a research tool and testing service, which has not been offered commercially in the UK before.

“Everything from climate change science and driverless cars need assets in space. Our aim is to be part of this supply chain for small satellites that will transform the UK’s position in the world in the space sector.

“This successful launch is testament to the hard work of our team, Spaceport 1 and our investors.”

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The launch also comes just weeks after the UK Government’s new framework to regulate the space industry came into force.

This framework has the potential to thrust Scotland and the UK into the global forefront of the growing space sector, making spaceport developments and space launches a reality.

The test shows how companies can work together commercially under the new government space framework to deliver a successful rocket launch from the UK.

Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Roddie MacKay said: “The Spaceport 1 project presents a significant economic opportunity for the Outer Hebrides as it will create new jobs, support diversification within existing sectors and attract academic, research and innovation developments to the area, such as we see happening with this partnership with Gravitilab.”