First rocket launch from SaxaVord delayed further
A PLANNED first orbital rocket launch from the SaxaVord Spaceport has been cancelled with no new date announced.
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) had planned a first launch into orbit from UK soil during a five-week window starting later this month, but this is now not happening.
The spaceport said last night (Wednesday) that any launch related road restrictions in the vicinity of the launch site in Unst “have been put on hold until further notice”.
RFA said last week that it had to “de-stack” its flight vehicle to investigate an “issue” its staff had encountered.
The company had its RFA One rocket standing on the launch site ahead of a hot fire test when engineers encountered the issue.
RFA has given no further details and has so far made no other announcement regarding the latest delay in their launch efforts.
In a short statement on social media SaxaVord Spaceport said: “The temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs) associated with the previously announced launch window have been put on hold until further notice.
“There will therefore be no launch-related road restrictions in place during the period originally identified, between 10 August and 14 September.
“We would like to thank the Unst community for its continued patience and support.”
RFA will now have to apply for a new launch window.
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