Rocket Engine Explodes During Test At Shetland Spaceport
A rocket engine exploded during a test at SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland's Shetland Islands on Monday. The incident occurred as part of a series of trials conducted by German rocket manufacturer Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), which hopes to achieve the UK’s first vertical rocket launch into orbit later this year.
Despite the dramatic footage showing the engine engulfed in flames, no one was injured, as the site had been evacuated before the test.
SaxaVord Spaceport, which became the UK’s first licensed vertical launch site last year, confirmed that the explosion happened during a routine test meant to identify issues before moving to the next phase.
"This was a test, and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage," a spokesperson for the spaceport said.
RFA echoed this sentiment, stating they are investigating the cause of what they called an "anomaly."
Footage of the test shows large plumes of fire and smoke erupting from the rocket engine before the entire structure was consumed by flames. The launch pad, however, was reportedly "saved and is secured," according to RFA, which is now working with SaxaVord to determine what went wrong.
This explosion comes just three months after RFA successfully completed their first engine test at the same site, which was hailed as a milestone by the UK Space Agency. The incident has not deterred SaxaVord’s ambitions, as the spaceport continues its preparations for the UK’s first vertical satellite launch.
The spaceport, located on the remote island of Unst, received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority in December 2023 to begin orbital launches, with up to 30 launches planned annually.
The space industry in the UK is rapidly expanding, with SaxaVord at the forefront as Western Europe’s only fully-licensed vertical launch site. The spaceport, originally a former RAF radar station, is part of a broader effort to establish the UK as a key player in the global space market, projected to be worth over a trillion dollars by 2030.
RFA’s tests at SaxaVord are crucial steps toward their goal of launching a rocket into orbit later this year. Despite the setback, both RFA and SaxaVord remain committed to learning from the incident and advancing their preparations for future launches.
