Skyrora

Skyrora Ltd is a private space company from Scotland founded in 2017.

Skyrora Ltd
TypePrivate
FoundedJune 21, 2017 (2017-06-21)[1]
Headquarters
Edinburgh, Scotland
,
U.K.
Key people
  • Volodymyr Levykin (CEO)
Websitewww.skyrora.com

In August 2018 it successfully conducted Scotland's first commercial rocket launch by a private company at Kildermorie Estate in Ross-shire.[2] The company launched the 1.3 metre tall Skylark Nano rocket using an M class model rocketry motor in August 2018 and the 2 metre tall Skylark Nano II rocket using a Cesaroni M-1520BS model rocketry motor in July 2019.[3][4][5][6] The rockets are all built and assembled in the United Kingdom.

The company employs 18 staff at its Edinburgh headquarters along with over 100 staff in Ukraine, and also has offices in Slovakia and Cornwall.[7] The Chief Executive Officer is Volodymyr Levykin, who has previously been in senior positions across a number of dot com and technology businesses. He was the Managing Director of Aim-listed online dating company Cupid plc.[8][9]

The company specializes in the launch of small satellites, with an emphasis on developing new and cost-effective methods of doing so.[2]

Skylark Nano

The Skylark Nano is a short range, single-stage unguided supersonic rocket, designed for simulating a launch to then be recovered with the use of parachutes. The rocket is powered by solid fuel combustion engines and the vehicle is aerodynamically stabilised through four fins. This means that neither a control system or a thrust vector control system is required, therefore making it a simpler and safer piece of equipment. It has been used in two live tests in the Scottish Highlands, reaching an altitude of 6 km.

Skylark Micro

The Skylark Micro is a two-stage rocket designed as intermediate step between Skylark Nano and Skylark L. It made its maiden flight in August 2020, reaching an altitude of 27 km. Both stages landed in the ocean with parachutes.[10]

Skylark L

The Skylark L suborbital launch vehicle will be the first Skyrora rocket to use a hydrogen peroxide–kerosene engine, with a maiden flight planned in 2020. This rocket was subject to a full static fire test[11] in May 2020 at the Kildermorie Estate in Alness, Scotland. When this vehicle is launched it will carry a maximum payload of 90–100 kg up to an altitude of 90 km.[12][13]

Skyrora XL

The Skyrora XL is a three-stage orbital launch vehicle that is currently under development.[14] Nine of the same hydrogen peroxide–kerosene engines used on Skylark L will power the first stage of the vehicle, and one engine each on the second and third stages. A payload capacity of 315 kg to a 500 km orbit is expected.[13] As of May 2020, the maiden flight is planned to take place in 2023.[15]

Skyrora has successfully tested a final stage rocket engine in its first stationary ground-firings. The engine was tested with Ecosene fuel created from waste plastic and traditional RP-1 rocket fuel.[16]

References
  1. "Skyrora Limited". Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  2. "Scotland's first commercial rocket launch an important step". The National. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  3. Skyrora (11 December 2018). "Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  4. Skyrora (8 August 2019). "Second test launch mission - Skylark Nano II". YouTube. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  5. Daily Telegraph (28 April 2019). "All Skyrora Rockets". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  6. Skyrora (11 December 2018). "Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  7. "Space Spotlight - Skyrora has one incredible secret to share". Scotland Now. Scotland.org. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  8. Cupid plc (6 December 2012). "Cupid PLC : Director Appointment and broadening of Exec team". marketscreener.com. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  9. Daily Telegraph (28 April 2019). ""More investment in launcher capabilities is needed in Europe" - Interview with Volodymyr Levykin, CEO of private launch service company Skyrora Ltd". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  10. "Skyrora Rocket Launch From Iceland Reaches Three Times The Height Of Mount Everest". 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  11. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2020/05/20/major-rocket-test-takes-place-in-the-uk-for-the-first-time-in-50-years/#16fc2e1b12ca
  12. "Skylark L – The Suborbital Launch Vehicle". Skyrora. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  13. Speed, Richard (22 August 2019). "Brit rocketeer Skyrora reckons it'll be orbital in 3 years – that is, if UK government plays ball". The Register. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  14. "Skyrora XL – Orbital Launch Vehicle". Skyrora. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  15. "The UKs first complete ground rocket test in 50 years takes place in Scotland". Skyrora. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  16. Etherington, Darrell (3 February 2020). "Launch startup Skyrora successfully tests 3D-printed rocket engines powered by plastic waste". TechCrunch. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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