Rocket explodes on launch pad at UK spaceport

Engine developed by a German start-up burst into flames within seconds of ignition

A rocket engine has exploded during a test at Britain’s newest spaceport in the Shetland Islands.
The rocket body, developed by German start-up Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), burst into flames seconds after ignition while on the launch pad on Monday night.
The start-up said the “hot fire” test of the first stage rocket resulted in an “anomaly” and the loss of the spacecraft.
“No one was injured in the process,” the start-up said. “The launch pad has been saved and is secured.”
The test was being carried out at Shetland’s SaxaVord spaceport, which secured a licence to host rocket missions in December last year.
The spaceport said the site had been evacuated prior to the test and no staff had been at risk. It added the rocket base would assist with an investigation into the failure.
A spokesman for SaxaVord said: “This was a test, and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage.
“We will work with RFA to understand and learn from the causes and support them as they move forward to the next phase of their preparations.”
The planned test of the rocket should have seen its nine engines light up while remaining moored to the launch pad. It was intended as one of a series of tests building up to a first launch of RFA’s rocket from the UK later this year.
Founded in 2018, RFA has raised tens of millions of euros from investors, including US private equity giant KKR, to build a European rocket business and a challenger to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Its 30-metre tall rocket is intended to carry satellites into low-earth-orbit. 
A spokesman for RFA said: “We will take our time to analyse and assess the situation. Our goal is to return to regular operations as soon as possible.”
SaxaVord, located on the island of Unst, secured a spaceport licence in December last year, becoming Britain’s second launch base after Spaceport Cornwall. Situated on a former RAF base, it has permits to host up to 30 missions per year.
German rocket start-up HyImpulse, America’s Lockheed Martin and Scottish start-up Skyrora have all said they will use the base for future missions.
Spaceport Cornwall was the UK’s first site licensed to carry out rocket missions. However, a planned launch by Sir Richard Brandon’s Virgin Orbit – which fired rockets from under the wing of a converted 747 – failed in January 2023. It has not hosted a mission since.