Saxavord Spaceport Launches Will Bring High Economic Benefits to Scottish Space Sector

The environmental impact of the Scottish space sector and clean energy sources have been the main topic of discussion ahead of the COP26 climate conference to be held in Glasgow next month. Avid speakers from the Scottish government and space experts have expressed their desire to bring Scotland to a new age of net zero emissions by 2045.

Can SaxaVord Spaceport rocket launches lower expected carbon emissions?

There have been a lot of speculations regarding carbon emissions ahead of the first rocket launch at SaxaVord Scottish Spaceport. Emissions from the first launch are expected to not exceed the annual output measured from a “handful of automobiles.”

Scott Hammond has said that the planning of the base and subsequent launches has taken CO2 emissions, noise pollution, energy consumption, and air quality into consideration.

It seems the location of the Shetland Space Centre, another name for the same Scottish spaceport, has been chosen for those exact reasons – it is out of the way so as not to pollute the air of nearby dwellings and to reduce pollution levels to the soil.

The SaxaVord Spaceport is expected to boost Unst’s economy and lower CO2 emissions for future rocket launches

The Scottish spaceport has brought a surprising increase in Scottish space interest. The launch facility plans were created with economic growth in mind – the facility will provide over 140 jobs in Unst and bring roughly £5 million per annum into the island’s economy.

Lockheed Martin’s Nik Smith has shared that some satellites, planned to be launched from SaxaVord, will be used to monitor climate changes. “That cost-benefit easily is in favour of doing this activity,” he said.

The first satellite launched from SaxaVord is planned for early 2022. The team still has to secure planning permission from the government. “Our aspiration is to make it as early in ’2022 as possible,” Smith said.

The spaceport will be a giant step for the Scottish space and UK space industry as it will see SaxaVord Spaceport, Lockheed Martin, Skyrora and ABL Space work on bringing the spaceport’s operation to reality.