Announcing Skyrora as Diamond Sponsor

Skyrora Ltd is a trailblazing British space company headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, founded in 2017 by tech entrepreneur Volodymyr Levykin. With a mission to restore sovereign launch capability to the UK, Skyrora has rapidly emerged as a leader in small satellite launch technology, sustainable propulsion systems, and end-to-end space infrastructure. The company designs, manufactures, and tests its launch vehicles entirely within the UK, positioning itself as a cornerstone of the nation’s growing space economy.

Skyrora made history, yesterday, by becoming the first British rocket manufacturer to receive a UK launch operator license under the Space Industry Act 2018 and Space Industry Regulations 2021. This milestone marked a critical step toward enabling orbital launches from UK soil, reinforcing the UK’s ambition to become a global hub for commercial spaceflight.

The company’s flagship vehicle, Skyrora XL, is a three-stage orbital launch system designed to deliver payloads of up to 315 kg into Sun-synchronous and polar orbits. It features nine hydrogen peroxide–kerosene engines, including the UK’s most powerful commercially-produced liquid engine, built using advanced 3D printing techniques. Skyrora XL is slated for launch Q4 2026, potential from Saxavord.

Skyrora’s infrastructure is equally impressive. In 2022, it opened the UK’s largest rocket engine manufacturing facility in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, spanning over 120,000 square feet. This site enables full-stage structural, pressure, and cold flow testing—capabilities previously outsourced abroad—bringing critical development processes in-house. Complementing this is the Midlothian engine testing facility, which supports hot-fire testing and analysis for Skyrora XL.

Skyrora’s broader commitment to responsible space practices, including its signing of the ESA-led “Statement for a Responsible Space Sector” in 2024. Beyond technology, Skyrora invests in education and workforce development, employing graduate apprenticeships and STEM outreach programs. It also supports heritage initiatives, such as funding the retrieval of historic Black Arrow rocket stages and sponsoring UKSEDS, the UK’s student space society.

With a growing team of over 100 employees and strategic partnerships across Europe, Skyrora is not just building rockets—it’s shaping the future of UK spaceflight. Its integrated approach to manufacturing, testing, and launch operations positions it as a vital player in the UK’s space strategy, driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth from Scottish soil to the stars.

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