Saxavord Receives Spaceport License plus more UK space news from Orbex, SatVu

[@erideimos1207]

Hey, Congrats Tom and all of Scotland on your new spaceport! And it looks pretty good in design. Can't wait to see you live streaming in the dark rain next year pointing at the Saxaford launch pad behind you and yelling, "“It’s a braw night tae launch the rocket!!” Thanks for all the great vids, Merry Christmas!

[@tomduneofficial]

Haha I'll have to remember my big coat! It's gonna be good when it happens. Have a great Christmas and new year when they come

[@erideimos1207]

@@tomduneofficialSo how far do you live from Saxaford? It looks like quite a drive even from the nearest town. Are you allowed to camp nearby in the open? Do you have Starlink and a generator? Can you get to the bar where the spaceport workers drink? Saxaford needs its 'Everyday Astronaut', could be you! Good luck!

[@tomduneofficial]

I live on the mainland so would be a ferry or flight to get there. Some of the team have a starlink. Not sure on arrangements yet but once it's finished we should know more

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

Actual launches, that's great news Tom!!🚀🚀👍👍

[@GuidoLeWombert]

Well done Tom, great update!

[@TheRealASN]

The hype is real

[@SpaceNessie]

Another excellent video. 2024 is going to be an amazing year for Scottish space flight

[@tomduneofficial]

Thanks dude. It's sure looking that way!

[@plasticmug2010]

Have a great xms and new year

[@tomduneofficial]

And you!

[@JimClelland]

Really enjoyed the coverage and the news coming from Saxavord and all points east and west. Keep up the great work and stay spacey.

[@tomduneofficial]

Thanks Jim! I'll try, but not in the 'Kevin' kind of way 😂😉

[@JimClelland]

@@tomduneofficial That last bit took me a second 😄 But, yes definitely enjoying the content and the enthusiasm, looking forward to more news and reviews in 2024.

[@tomduneofficial]

Always try to bring it 🙂. Let's see what 2024 has in store for us!

[@ross077]

Excellent recap of some really positive news for UK space. It's great to see a proactive approach to regulation from the CAA. Thanks for all your efforts to bring us your unique and high quality content this year Tom. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. Onwards and upwards for UK space in 2024!

[@tomduneofficial]

Thanks for all your support this year. Have a great christmas and new year!

[@stevenmccarron-talesfromli4831]

Awesome video again mate!!!!! Keep up the great work in 2024

[@tomduneofficial]

Aw thanks man!!

[@oakieoakman5321]

Thanks Tom, sad it's the last one this year😢, go uk space! Have a great break and hogmanay! ❤

[@tomduneofficial]

Thanks man, you too!

[@k.hussain360]

Great round up of the UK Space News Tom, all the best for the holidays and look forward to more great content in the year.

[@tomduneofficial]

Thanks Khurram! Same to yourselves and all the best for the new year!

[@maximusexplorer9375]

After watching the development of Scottish spaceports for a very long time now and even visiting the site of the Sutherland Spaceport on the A' Mhòine peninsula, I can't believe it's looking likely rocket launches from Saxavord and Sutherland may actually happen!! - After what happened with Virgin at Spaceport Cornwall I'm allowing myself tho believe again!!

[@tomduneofficial]

To quote from a Christmas movie... You just have to believe 😂. But yed, it's looking like launches are on the horizon and ones that we can actually go to without breaking the bank!

[@GuidoLeWombert]

They have a lot on their plate at the moment I am sure they will get around to it.

[@jimcabezola3051]

Ah... Such satisfying news! I wish you all "Mele Kalikimaka and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!" Have a pint, sit back and bask in the glow of this wonderful event. Here's to the Scottish spaceflight industry! May they really keep YOU hopping in 2024. We'll join you for the wild ride! Cheers!

[@tomduneofficial]

Exciting times indeed Jim! Better book my hotel in Shetland now eh 😁

[@jimcabezola3051]

@@tomduneofficial Absolutely, Tom! I hope you book a nice, comfy place at a nice price!

[@TheOriginalJAX]

Man I really and I mean really hope they straighten out that access road, It needs to be a straight line coming of all the launch pad sites and line up perpendicular with the pad entrances. Or be ready to scrap launches in the future because the road was to narrow an winding to get the rockets down, It's a simple thing but if they don't do it now it will cost them contracts in the future on the basis of viability. just look at other launch sites around the world, access and moving the rockets around is the biggest logistical issue they have to overcome so planning ahead is a must.

[@tomduneofficial]

From first images of the build I dont think the roads will be narrow at all. They may have to wind in places due to the terrain, but for an 11m long rocket it shouldn't be too much of an issue and they will have factored this in. The initial plan was for the pad to be a mile from the control room so plenty of stretch there. What I'm interested in, as you rightly say, is if they will improve the actual main public road further than just adding additional passing places because that will be tight. There is word on this being considered but nothing firm at present.

[@TheOriginalJAX]

@@tomduneofficial I don't know about adding additional access passes and whether that is good a idea, depends where and why I guess. I just want to reduce the number of bends in the roads and maximize the available potential width so that they can fit the the biggest rockets they can down them. Don't see why we would limit them to a specific rocket when there is only so big you can go anyway so they may as well do that and plan around that for the future instead, That way if they ever decide or offered to launch rockets that are bigger they can. Better to have it and not need it than needing it and not having it, That and it's relatively cheap to dig roads when there is nothing else in the way like there is currently.

[@tomduneofficial]

The politics question is indeed interesting as Labour gave nothing away about their position on UK space initiatives. That said I respectfully disagree that it's a waste. Western Europe has no sites the size of Saxavord and it's a great position to launch from as polar orbits become more required. Lerwick has good shipping access too and though remote, that's a positive. Perhaps when other European sites enlarge we'll see how it does incl comparison and maybe I'm biased being from Scotland as I want it to succeed, but has all the requirements in place to do just that. Who knows what will happen and I remain open minded.

[@nigels.6051]

Llanbedr - almost perfect pronunciation, except the first letter, which is 'Ll', not 'L', you got that completely wrong, but don't worry, everyone will understand.

[@tomduneofficial]

Thank you!

[@goonyhill1857]

You forgot Morecambe Bay 😂

[@tomduneofficial]

Very true 😂

[@lilboy3102]

🚀I heard RFA will probably launch in April 2024 🎉 But by that time, do you think the saxavord spaceport will be completely ready with everything like launchpad, launch tower, visitor centre, radar station and hotel ?

[@GuidoLeWombert]

Yes it will!

[@tomduneofficial]

Hotel doubtful but everything at pad Fredo will be ready. RFA and other investors will make sure of that now the license and, crucially, governmental confidence to grant the license, is in place

[@lilboy3102]

@@GuidoLeWombert I was just worrying because not a single photo or video has come showing the progress of saxavord spaceport.

[@tomduneofficial]

Yeah I've been pushing them to release something new. Cant keep reusing the same footage over and over. The only new image was the one of the launch tower foundations

[@GuidoLeWombert]

They have a lot on their plate at the moment I am sure they will get around to it.@@tomduneofficial