9 engines, 50,000 To launch a rocket into orbit requires 1 liter of fuel, 7 tons of thrust and a speed of 8 km/s. For his Skyrora provider, a private rocket based in Scotland, this is just the first step.
Payloads are satellites, not passengers. Company founder and CEO Volodymyr Levykin said: “Now private companies are trying to bring the same capabilities to the next level of communication and observation.”
If the previous space race was between rival nations to prove technological superiority, the next one is waged by corporations competing for profit. “Elon Musk pioneered the private space race with SpaceX,” he says Levykin. “He proved that the launch could be done independent of the government. It sparked global interest. Silicon Valley became inspired by space being the new frontier of technology. “
Space startups are popping up all over the world right now. Levykin says most are in the US, with China, India and Europe catching up. Government interest in space is also rekindled. The UK aims to increase its share of the global space market to 10% by 2030, when the industry is estimated to be worth around £400bn ($483bn).
That’s why Levykin launched Skyrora in 2017. Levykin says Scotland offers an ideal European base, provides a clear orbit to the North Pole, and is essential for sun-synchronous satellite orbits. It also has easy access to the UK spaceport. It is planned north of Hadrian’s Wall. Skyrora designs and builds the rockets at its own factory in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, and deploys them at a test blasting area outside Edinburgh.
The company’s flagship rocket, Skyrora XL, capable of carrying a 315-kilogram payload, is ready and on paper to launch from the Shetland Islands in 2023. According to Levykin, the client will likely be an intermediary satellite company that sells data to companies. “There is so much information that can be gleaned from space, such as optical and temperature sensors that produce data that can be processed in real time by industries ranging from agriculture to traffic management systems to insurance companies. “
SpaceX offers a similar service. Its satellite rideshare program offers companies space travel aboard the Falcon 9 for $275,000. According to Levykin, Skyrora’s main differentiator is that it offers a dedicated launch. “SpaceX is like a bus service. You can only use it with other passengers and you have to share space and time. We are like a taxi service. We can start from the point, and if we are late, we won’t leave without you.”
Skyrora’s goal is six months from customer contact to takeoff, rather than waiting an average of two years for a SpaceX connection (enough time to prepare the launch contract and fill out the paperwork). As such, he estimates the ticket price will be three times that of his SpaceX. “We are addressing a niche market for customers who don’t want to share their payloads with others. For those for whom time is more important than money.”
