SaxaVord spaceport with a completed launch stool visible. Photo: SaxaVord Spaceport
By Curtis Baines,
Published by Orbital Today, 27 February 2025
SaxaVord Spaceport is fast becoming a hot commodity for future launches. Space companies are queuing to use the Scottish launch site including the likes of RFA and Orbex. However, while excitement is brewing for the UK’s first vertical launch, there could be severe and negative fallout from the spaceport’s upcoming activities. Not to mention the reputational damage – even after rumours of misleading and mishandled financial records.
When we delve deeper into SaxaVord’s activities, it could be said that tension is on the horizon – especially in regard to environmental, geopolitical, and economic concerns. But will reusable rockets and eco-fuels – particularly, Orbex and their in-development rocket – be the answer to quashing such issues moving forward?
A Spotlight On The Environmental Impact Of SaxaVord Spaceport
SaxaVord spaceport is the UK’s first vertical launch site, where the likes of Orbex and Rocket Factory Augsburg are gearing up for the launch of their respective rockets. Yet, in 2022, a Civil Aviation Authority Environmental Assessment of RFA’s proposed launch activities has revealed some troubling insights, including:
- Possible harm to seabirds;
- Climate pollution and CO2 emissions;
- Air pollution;
- Discarded rocket parts falling into oceans and regional areas;
- Noise pollution emitted from the launch.
Geographically, SaxaVord spaceport is situated north of Scotland in Unst, the Shetland Isles. As a result, when rockets launch from the spaceport, and because of the proximity to northern polar obits, they will travel across the North Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, close to inhabited nations such as Iceland.
Rockets launched from SaxaVord will avoid flying directly over populated regions – such as Iceland and Norway. However, launch activities could be disastrous for marine life, Earth’s climate, and our carbon footprint regardless of their flight path. This doesn’t mean close by nations will not be immune to the aftermath either – just because they’re outside the rocket’s trajectory.
How Badly Does Space Flight Impact Earth’s Climate?
Space travel isn’t the most environmentally friendly practice. When a rocket launches, it burns an exorbitant amount of fuel. In fact, a rocket uses over two million times as much fuel as a family car during take-off – 11 million pounds to be exact, NASA says.
Back in the not-too-distant past, rocket launches were few and far between. For instance, there were 210 rocket launches in 2013. 10 years later, that figure ballooned to 2,664 in 2023, primarily due to the increased interest in orbital satellite services.
Space flight isn’t a massive contributor compared to other Earthly emitters. However, according to NOAA, approximately “1,000 tons of rocket soot” is emitted annually. This is set to rise with the frequency of launches proliferating, which will inevitably cause an increase in the industry’s climate footprint.
How Will Iceland Fair When Launch Activities Continue To Rise
SaxaVord is ready to disrupt the space industry. However, it may create a more adverse disruption to relations between the UK and Iceland. Currently, CAA has granted upwards of 30 launches per year from the Scottish launch site. RFA is also aiming to achieve around 10 annual SaxaVord launches in the coming years. While this is great news for the UK space industry, for neighbouring Iceland, not so much. Realistically, Iceland appears to have drawn the short straw.
Iceland’s Marine Life & The Effects Of Rocket Debris
One of the nation’s biggest economic drivers is its fishing industry. Iceland’s Responsible Fisheries report 8.1% of the country’s GDP is procured through fishing. Equally, the industry employs around 7,500 people. With the prospects of launch rates increasing dramatically, marine life could be significantly impacted by discarded rocket parts that will fall within Icelandic waters if they don’t burn-up upon reentry.
If rocket companies fail to pursue a recycling strategy or create reusable rockets, this would be a significant environmental threat if discarded parts remain in Iceland’s seas indefinitely, especially if rocket launch rates continue to rise. A research paper published in ScienceDirect identified that: “chemical pollution from propellant components is the most dangerous for ecosystems”. As such, discarded rocket parts like stages could spell disaster for Iceland’s marine life if left over time and not recovered.
CAA consultations have revealed debris concerns were topical. CAA stated: “SaxaVord notes that all launches affecting Icelandic waters will need to consider the requirements set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Iceland and the UK Government in relation to debris recovery.” Yet, this falls short of a plan of action to minimise ocean-bound rocket debris.
Transatlantic Flight Paths To Be Hit By SaxaVord Exclusion Zones
Outside of the ocean concerns, a SaxaVord brochure outlined: “With minimal air traffic overhead, little to no rerouting of aircraft will be required during launch events, further minimising disruption.” Yet, reports have suggested the contrary. In fact, rockets launched from SaxaVord could be a headache for Iceland’s air traffic control.
Due to the flight path of SaxaVord launches, aviation flights will need to be rerouted. Planes will also need to dodge exclusion zones implemented on launch day. In addition, The Ferret reports the exclusion zone will cause prolonged flight times, resulting in more pollutant emissions. While flight rerouting is to promote safety, it could further aggravate geopolitical tensions due to Iceland possibly feeling disadvantaged by the deal.
How Orbex Plans To Utilise Greener Practices
While research in this area is meagre, NOAA suggested “level[s] of activity would increase annual temperatures in the stratosphere by 0.5 – 2°”. To combat the damage rocket fuels leave behind post launch, some organisations have been creating more eco-friendly fuels. Such company’s include British rocket developers, Orbex, who were bestowed with the title of ‘World’s Most Environmentally Friendly Space Rocket’ in 2021. This is significant because Orbex will actively launch from SaxaVord once their in-development rocket, Orbex Prime, is ready.
Orbex Prime uses a bio-propane fuel which is said to be more eco-friendly compared to other fuels like liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and kerosene. The Prime rocket will also be entirely reusable, meaning discarded parts will not end up in neighbouring oceans and land. Orbex’s patented ‘REFLIGHT technology’ or petals, in addition to a small parachute, will enable the rocket to land upon reentry.
Bio-Propane: Is Biofuel Really That Green?
While research shows carbon emissions are drastically reduced with the use of bio-propane rocket fuel, is this all smoke and mirrors? Orbex’s bio-propane or bioLPG fuel – which will be used in Prime – is sourced from planet and vegetable waste and supplied by Colar, a major British gas and fuel manufacturer. Early research indicates Orbex’s bio-propane will offer a carbon reduction of 96% compared to other fuel alternatives. Equally, this research has highlighted that Prime will generate 86% less emissions.
However, there are some criticisms of the seemingly eco-friendly fuel. To create the fuel, it requires a heat source which is typically generated using fossil-fuels, according to EIA. Ironically, this exercise generates carbon emissions. Therefore, bio-propane cannot be fully carbon neutral if we factor in this process – in addition to transporting, storing, and freezing the fuel.
Environmental experts doubt the transparency of the ecological aspects of eco-fuels, especially when compared to traditional fuels. However, based on what little research that’s been conducted, Eloise Marais, Environmental Scientist at the University College London, points out: “BioLPG is not pollution-neutral at all. It is a carbon-based fuel, so it will produce black carbon, NOx, and water vapour… All propellants generate pollution. If these have carbon, like kerosene, black carbon (soot) particles are released and these are very effective at absorbing incoming solar radiation and warming the local atmosphere.”
Similarly, a constant supply of bioLPG will be an issue. The US Department of Energy outlined that: “the inherently dispersed, highly-variable, aerobically unstable nature of biomass, among other characteristics, are still a challenge.” Meaning, the spread out locations of biomass used in bio-rocket-fuels, storage complications, and challenges with degradation could result in supply shortages. If Orbex scales their launch rate, they may also encounter this issue.
Solutions To Mitigate Risks Of SaxaVord Spaceport Launches
There are a suite of solutions that could help to reduce the impact of launches from SaxaVord spaceport. One of which could be to reduce launch windows in order to prevent excess fuel waste, as well as prevent unnecessary aviation rerouting. They could also cap the amount of launches conducted annually.
Another possible solution could be to enact a reusable rocket policy. This would force users of SaxaVord to develop more reusable rockets – ones like Orbex Prime and thus reduce the amount of discarded rocket parts destined to land in Icelandic waters. If this is currently unrealistic, SaxaVord could force a recycling initiative to push launch providers to pull rocket parts out of the ocean post-launch.
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