UK-based Orbex, a developer of small launch vehicles, received further support from Scotland’s national bank and other investors as it prepares for its inaugural orbital launch, although a specific launch date has not been set.
Established in 2015, Orbex is among several companies vying to advance the next wave of European launch systems. With the retirement of Ariane 5 and substantial delays in Ariane 6 and Vega C rockets, Europe faces a void in launch capacity.
However, this gap presents an opportunity for Orbex, which is developing a microlauncher named Prime, standing at 19 meters tall and capable of carrying payloads up to 180 kilograms. Orbex’s CEO, Philip Chambers, highlighted the positive market conditions for their product, given the surge in satellite launches to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and the demand for sovereign launch capabilities from Europe.
Prime will operate from a new spaceport in Sutherland, northern Scotland, funded partly by the UK’s national space agency. The company plans to integrate a patented recovery technology called REFLIGHT, featuring an interstage structure that facilitates a soft ocean splashdown after booster detachment.
While Orbex envisions potentially larger vehicles in the future, Prime remains their primary focus. Chambers noted the scalability of Prime’s core technologies to support larger payloads, emphasizing the need for cost competitiveness in the space industry.
Orbex’s Series D funding round, totaling £16.7 million ($20.7 million), includes investments from Octopus Ventures, BGF, Heartcore, EIFO, and others. This funding will accelerate Prime’s development and scalability for its launch phase, although a definitive launch window has not yet been disclosed.
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