ESA’s Boost! Program Extends Funding for Orbex
Will Provide an Additional €5.6 Million Towards Launch of Prime Rocket
The ESA Boost! Program is providing an additional €5.6 million (≈$5.93 million) to its contract to help Orbex move towards the inaugural launch of Prime next year and continue to support over 200 highly skilled aerospace jobs in the North of Scotland and Denmark.
"This funding extension will enable us to make the vital next step in our journey as we move towards our inaugural launch of our micro-launcher, Orbex Prime next year."
Phil Chambers, Orbex
Orbex was awarded the Boost! contract in 2020 which is designed to support commercially sustainable space transportation services in Europe. At the time, it was the largest award made to date by the program and was matched by additional private investment which has been critical to the development of Orbex’s Prime micro-launcher.
Sustainability is also a core driver in the design of the company’s advanced, low-carbon, high-performance micro-launcher, Orbex Prime. Prime is a 19-meter-long rocket designed to launch small satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits. It has been carefully engineered to leave zero debris in orbit and is fueled by a renewable form of propane (bio-propane), meaning it has a carbon footprint up to 96% lower than traditional satellite launch vehicles powered by fossil fuels.
“We welcome this further €5.6 million extension of funding from the European Space Agency's Boost! Program," said Phil Chambers, CEO of Orbex. "The initial award made in 2020 has helped us to progress the development of our spaceflight systems. This funding extension will enable us to make the vital next step in our journey as we move towards our inaugural launch of our micro-launcher, Orbex Prime next year; these programs are vital to help realize our shared goal of making the UK a central hub for European space flight."
“Europe’s emerging commercial launch service providers are pushing towards their first launches, we are very interested to see their rockets deliver, diversifying the European launch services on offer,” said Toni Tolker Nielsen, ESA’s Director of Space Transportation
“This new investment in Orbex through ESA’s Boost! Program highlights the government’s commitment to securing a UK launch capability," said Matt Archer, UK Space Agency Director of Launch, ISAM and Space Sustainability. "It will enable Orbex to accelerate the production of its Prime launch vehicle, supporting high-skilled jobs in Scotland and paving the way for their first launch attempt next year.”
The announcement was made earlier this week as Space Tech Expo Europe kicked off in Breman and the team has been on site in Germany this week to share the Orbex story and meet with potential customers and suppliers.