John Swinney’s signature is set to be launched into space after the First Minister signed a rocket at the SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst in Shetland. German firm Rocket Factory Augsburg is making “final preparations” to launch the RFA One rocket from the facility, which is one of only two such sites in Europe.
“Absolutely honoured to sign the rocket at the SaxaVord spaceport here in Shetland,” Swinney posted online. “It should be going up to space later this year. Fascinating to see.”
The visit comes with some significant context. In August 2024, the first stage of the RFA One burst into flames on the launch pad after an oxygen fire in the turbopumps set all nine engines ablaze. The company was just weeks away from an inaugural flight at the time, and the incident set the programme back by more than a year. RFA has since manufactured a replacement first stage and upgraded the vehicle’s upper stage.
CEO Dr Indulis Kalnins said the firm was taking a more cautious approach: “We are taking the time to do it properly. We remain aggressive, fast, and flexible, but the wild times before August 2024 are over.” The RFA One is a 30 metre tall two stage rocket designed to deliver payloads of up to 1,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
Swinney’s visit also comes in the shadow of Orbex’s collapse into administration last week. That company received £76.7 million in public funding, including £29 million from the Scottish National Investment Bank, and employed 163 people in Moray. Its failure has put SNIB under increased scrutiny. Scotland’s space ambitions are real, but so are the risks. Signing a rocket makes for a good photograph. Getting it off the ground is what actually matters.