Space policy
UK and Germany plan launch cooperation through SaxaVord
Their October 8 joint statement targets a space memorandum in early 2027 and closer cooperation on European launch access. It announces no new launch contract or spaceport funding award.
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The UK and Germany plan to deepen launch cooperation, including SaxaVord Spaceport, under a joint statement published by both governments on October 8. The statement frames the work as a way to make European access to space more resilient and responsive.
The spaceport is on Unst in Scotland’s Shetland Islands. The UK Civil Aviation Authority granted SaxaVord a range control licence in April 2024, permitting safety services such as clearing hazardous areas, surveillance and tracking rockets in flight. That licence was not itself permission to launch.
The October statement sets out an intention to cooperate across civil, commercial, security and defence interests. It also calls for stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation on space security and defence, without specifying a new programme or operational arrangement.
The governments plan to work towards a memorandum of understanding for their consultations in early 2027. The document’s space section names SaxaVord in the nearer-term launch cooperation but gives no launch date, contracted mission or new funding amount. The memorandum remains a planned next step.
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Their October 8 joint statement targets a space memorandum in early 2027 and closer cooperation on European launch access. It announces no new launch contract or spaceport funding award. Read the full report: https://www.spaceexploration.in/news/uk-germany-saxavord-space-cooperation #SpaceExplorationNews #SpaceNews #SpacePolicy
