SaxaVord Spaceport
In DevelopmentNo launches are currently scheduled from SaxaVord Spaceport in the published manifest, which was last confirmed on 9 August 2026. Dates may have moved since.
SaxaVord Spaceport is Europe's northernmost planned orbital launch site, on Unst in the Shetland Islands at 60.9°N. Its extreme latitude makes it ideal for sun-synchronous and polar orbits with minimal fuel penalty. Licensed and under construction; first orbital launch targeted for 2026.
Site history
Orbital mechanics from 60.8990°N
A launch site's latitude determines which orbits are achievable and at what fuel cost. SaxaVord at 60.8990°N sets the following constraints:
Satellite train visibility from SaxaVord
From 60.8990°N, SaxaVord can reach 2 Starlink inclination shells: 70°, 97.6° SSO (polar).
Trains launched to higher inclinations are visible from more of the world. A 97° SSO train from SaxaVord would be visible at virtually every latitude; a 53° train is visible from latitudes up to ±57° (primarily) — much of the populated world. In the hours after launch — before satellites raise their orbits — a tight train of 20–60 bright dots crosses the sky roughly every 90 minutes. Use OrbitalNodes' Starlink tracker for exact train pass times.
SaxaVord: the UK's first vertical spaceport
On Unst in Shetland, SaxaVord is the UK's first licensed vertical spaceport, preparing for what would be the first orbital launch from British soil — the maiden flight of Rocket Factory Augsburg's RFA One. By late June 2026 the rocket's first and second stages were on-site, the operator reported its ground systems ready, and RFA had filed a launch window opening no earlier than 1 July 2026 — with a realistic target of mid-to-late July, pending a final full-stack engine firing and the CAA's safety-case sign-off. The launch is still awaited, not yet flown; this page will be updated the moment that changes.
As the UK's most northerly point, it offers clear northbound trajectories over open ocean — close to ideal geography for the polar and sun-synchronous small-satellite launches it is built to serve.
SaxaVord — Launch Site FAQ
Where is SaxaVord and who operates it?
SaxaVord Spaceport is located at 60.8990°N, 0.8738°W in Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is owned and operated by SaxaVord Spaceport Ltd. The site is under development and has not yet conducted an orbital launch.
What rockets launch from SaxaVord?
The lead vehicle is RFA One (Rocket Factory Augsburg), targeting what would be the UK’s first orbital launch. An initial window opening 1 July 2026 passed without a flight; SaxaVord published a notice on 7 July setting a five-week window opening no earlier than 10 August 2026. The first stage was rebuilt over 18 months after a turbopump fire destroyed the original during a 2024 static fire. HyImpulse has also used the site for sub-orbital test flights. Orbex — once a planned anchor tenant with its Prime rocket — ceased operations in early 2026. Payloads are primarily SSO smallsats and polar-orbit commercial constellations.
What orbits can SaxaVord reach?
At 60.8990°N, SaxaVord's minimum achievable inclination is 60.9° (due-east launch). Sun-synchronous orbits (around 97°) are particularly efficient from this high latitude. The site can reach orbits between roughly 61° and 98° inclination.
Can I watch launches from SaxaVord?
SaxaVord Spaceport is still in development and has not yet conducted orbital launches. When operations begin, it will be one of the few sites in Shetland Islands capable of launching to space.
What satellites can I see that were launched from SaxaVord?
Satellites regularly launched from SaxaVord include SSO smallsats, polar orbit commercial constellations. Use OrbitalNodes to track any visible satellite in real time.
Why was SaxaVord built at this latitude?
SaxaVord at 60.8990°N was positioned to serve high-inclination and polar orbit missions. Development is ongoing.
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