Orbex Scrap Spaceport Sutherland and No UK Launches in 2024? What's Going On?

[@gavintheurquhart]

Awesome.... a NEW Space KZbinr on the scene . So awesome to see you back sir. Great update as always. What a shock this was to hear Orbex's announcement.

[@tomduneofficial]

It's been that long I almost feel new again 😂. Thanks Gav! I almost made a ranty video about it all but went the polite route instead. Been tempted to do a live stream this week to talk about it more

[@gavintheurquhart]

@@tomduneofficial loved your approach. It's really very frustrating, but a positive look is needed. Hope this means we move forward ASAP.

[@tomduneofficial]

@gavintheurquhart god I hope so. This was supposed to be out year but nevermind, next year... honestly 😂

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

That's a bummer about Sutherland Tom, hopefully it will get back on track at some point. The more UK spaceports the better!🚀🚀👍👍

[@OwnittEdits]

Amazing new video mate, it is disappointing there wasnt any launches this year, but I definitely think next year will be the year for UK spaceflight. I think Orbex making the decision to move to Saxavord is a good thing since it gives them more time to work on proxima and prime, it is sad to see they wont be launching from Sutherland at the moment though, but some sacrifices have to be made, and now saxavord and orbex, one of the two biggest rivals have partnered up, United together!

[@tomduneofficial]

Thanks dude. I'm not sure it was the right decision to piss off a load of people in the process with zero explanation but it does appear a win for Saxavord to consolidate launches from one place

[@OwnittEdits]

@@tomduneofficial yea agreed

[@davidrennolds969]

Very interesting video. I learnt a great deal. Look forward to the next one.

[@tomduneofficial]

Glad to hear that, thanks very much for watching!

[@ross077]

It's a bit concerning that funding already obtained by Orbex has resulted in a dead end at Sutherland. My biggest hopes for UK launch next year remain with RFA. Thanks for all your coverage this year, Tom. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@tomduneofficial]

Very concerning and I now see HIE and Gov wants answers to where they money has gone. I feel this is possibly going to backfire on them big time but don't want to speculate too much yet. Thanks Ross, merry Christmas to yourself too!

[@B0M0A0K]

Great video. There's alot of questions that remain unanswered around these subjects. The total abandonment of a site is pretty significant. I see that Saxavord is now posting Insta videos about combining Shetland GINs, which is a strange move for additional funding.

[@tomduneofficial]

I'm hoping to get more answers but Orbex give very little away. Yeah it's a bit odd but guess they're trying some new merch

[@RaySqw785]

[@linseyyoung1772]

They've said that they are going to use Saxavord for *now*. That's not the same as scrapping Sutherland altogether. They still have the lease. It might yet go ahead. To be honest, it makes sense to use Saxavord initially because it means they can focus on the rocket rather than the space port.

[@tomduneofficial]

True but given their overall lack of transparency I'm not sure whether I believe that. I do hope they eventually finish Sutherland but HIE are actively seeking a new launch provider and still actually own the site so anything could happen. I do suspect they want to just focus on actually getting rockets flying so fingers crossed it all works out and we can see them launching 😁

[@lilboy3102]

Hi Nice to see you again Do you remember me? 😅 So many delays 😭 Don't know what what will happen in 2025...

[@jimcabezola3051]

(sigh...) Is it ennui? Is it malaise? Are they hunkering down for the winter season and waiting for the spring thaw? Mahalo, Tom for a very in-depth analysis of this seemingly irrational series of changes within the British spaceflight community. The lack of openness on their part is very frustrating. The only thing those poor folks in Sutherland got maybe were a few nice, new access roads to help them get at more peat for their local industries. Otherwise...they appear to have gotten the rug pulled out from under them. Frankly, I'm amazed that RFA, from the outside looking in, seem to be far MORE discouraged in their efforts following that setback a few months ago with that explosion at Saxavord. I wish you and your family a Mele Kalikimaka and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou. Let's hope there's more successful 2025 "rocket season" ahead! Aloha!

[@tomduneofficial]

Aloha Jim and thanks. It's a very odd decision and a strange end to a strange year. I'm not sure RFA are discouraged, maybe just hunkering down a bit but I can't wait to see them back on the pad. Likewise, a happy and merry Christmas to you and yours! Appreciate all the support this year!

[@andrewclimo5709]

It's just one of those things. Companies go bust, struggle, pull back, when stuff is leading edge. The UK needs to keep at it, keep looking for inward investors, and broaden activities at each site. Both Newquay and Sutherland are great sites. Let's see more partnerships.

[@tomduneofficial]

Absolutely. I suspect it was simply more to do with it making financial sense for them to concentrate on actually launching rockets to make money, which they can do from Saxavord, but keeping Sutherland on the back burner for now until they have more cash to spend on it.

[@rogerphelps9939]

No launches from either site. UK not suitable.

[@rogerphelps9939]

Hardly leading edge anymore.

[@rogerphelps9939]

At the current rate of progress there will be no launches his decade either.

[@Steven-vo4ee]

I'm not surprised, there are better alternatives.

[@tomduneofficial]

Or at least one that's actually ready for them to fly from