PRESTWICK Spaceport is gearing up for its first launch in 2024 by welcoming two industry leading rocket businesses to work with the site.

Prestwick Spaceport will play an important role in the provision up to 4,000 local aerospace jobs for the Scottish space sector and will help nurture and develop the skills needed to keep the UK at the forefront of what is a globally growing industry for years to come.

Astraius, the UK-based, horizontal launch company which is working at the Spaceport, has partnered with two new ‘best-of-the-best’ industry leaders and strategic suppliers as part of its launch solution, accelerating plans for the first satellite launch from Prestwick Spaceport in spring 2024.

Northrop Grumman has been selected as the first and second stage motor supplier, and Exquadrum will provide the upper-stage motor.

Completing the mission, Exquadrum’s bespoke Astraius upper stage will precisely place satellites in their intended orbits.

Prestwick Aerospace is already the largest aerospace cluster in Scotland providing extensive employment for the local community.

The airport is a highly significant infrastructure asset which helps to currently support more than 4,000 jobs in the west of Scotland. It’s the heart of Scotland’s aerospace industry, with over 50 per cent of the country’s aerospace workforce employed at Prestwick.

The new partnerships announced by Astraius moves the Spaceport one step closer to being fully operational as the team continue to build upon its offers.

Mick O’Connor, programme director of Prestwick Spaceport, said: “This move is intrinsic in our plans to build a truly global space industry here in Prestwick.

“Collaborating with two heavyweight, industry leading, companies to work alongside Astraius in developing our spaceport offerings shows real confidence and that we really mean business.

“This partnership will ensure that we are offering state-of-the-art launch capabilities which will drive investment and jobs into the area.

“We remain firmly on track to have the first launch ready for 2024 and the potential for this Spaceport to completely reinvent both the economy of Ayrshire and Scotland.”

Sir George Zambellas, chairman of Astraius, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for Astraius.

"We have a winning combination of proven launch and propulsion systems paired with exquisite rocket motor technology to produce a world-class capability.

"When coupled with Prestwick Spaceport’s state-of-the-art launch vehicle and payload integration facilities, Scotland will be the UK’s leader for responsive space launch.”

Ian Annett, deputy chief executive of the UK Space Agency said: “It is great to see these exciting new collaborations and this major milestone towards horizontal launch at Prestwick Spaceport with Astraius.

"Scotland's space sector is booming and this partnership demonstrates the growing launch market, which will create jobs and opportunities across the UK and attract international investment.”

Situated adjacent to the airport, Glasgow Prestwick Spaceport is an 880-acre site and has 45,000 square metres of office, warehouse and hangar space which will become home to many leading space industry companies over the coming years.

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