Skyrora CEO Urges Government to Invest in UK Space Industry

Skyrora CEO Volodymyr Levykin has urged the UK government to extend its efforts in support of the country’s burgeoning space industry to help Britain become a world leader in the field. The founder of the Edinburgh-based space tech firm argues that further support will be critical to ensure that the country doesn’t fall behind the progress of competitors, be they other national space programs or private companies. His comments came in the wake of successful launches undertaken by SpaceX and a Chinese human-crewed spaceflight.

Volodymyr Levykin Welcomes New Space Regulations

Although the UK Parliament tabled a bill on the 24th of May to ratify a new draft of space industry regulations, Volodymyr Levykin stressed that the country still has a long way to go to realise its potential. He stated: “While the new legislative news is welcoming to our industry, more needs to be done to propel the UK as a space nation superpower.” The new laws are due to come into effect this year to provide UK firms like Skyrora with a legal framework for the development of commercial launch capabilities. Examples of this might include space planes, traditional rocket launches, and high-altitude balloons.

Skyrora Boss Believes Now is the Time for Action

Volodymyr Levykin is confident that, with the right support, the UK space industry can account for 10% of the global market share by 2030, leading to as many as 80,000 new skilled jobs being created in the field. He stresses that the government can help develop awareness about opportunities offered by firms like Skyrora and make the industry attractive to a new generation of professionals. Experts estimate that over 17,000 small satellites will have been sent into orbit around the world within this timeframe. Volodymyr Levykin argues that action now can help the UK secure a share of this growth for the long-term future.