Feature

Reach for the stars: The time for UK space innovation is now

Something significant is happening in the space sector – and it’s launching from the shores of Scotland.

05/02/2025 16:40:51

Thanks to a £20 million investment from the UK Government, Scottish-based Orbex is preparing to send Prime, the first UK-manufactured and UK-launched orbital rocket, into space.

For years, the UK has played an important role in satellite manufacturing – Glasgow alone builds more satellites than any other city in Europe – but we’ve always relied on other countries to get them into orbit.

Orbex’s Prime rocket – a 19m, two-stage vehicle designed to carry small satellites into low-Earth orbit – is currently undergoing rigorous testing. With the latest government funding accelerating development, the first launch is set to take place in late 2025.

Read the full article in DPA's February 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.