Boosting greener rockets with Orbex
In brief
ESA has signed a contract with Orbex to support the development of the Sutherland Spaceport in the UK as a launch pad for its Prime rocket, emphasising innovations to make launching small satellites into orbit as environmentally friendly as possible.
In-depth
The “Prime Development Support - Ultra Green Launch Activation Programme” commits €3.8 million of funding to go towards finalising the detailed design, production, installation and commissioning of the Sutherland Spaceport launch pad for Orbex’s Prime rocket. It follows a first Boost! contract signed between Orbex and ESA in 2021.
Orbex is a European company, developing its Prime two-stage rocket that will launch small satellites up to 180 kg to low Earth orbits. Headquartered in Scotland and with a site in Denmark, the company’s Prime rocket measures 19 m high and is powered by a cluster of 3D-printed engines that run on liquid oxygen and bio-propane, a clean-burning renewable fuel. Prime is also being designed to be reusable in the future.
Ultra-green launch facility
The goal of the contract is to help develop an ultra-green launch system including its ground support systems with minimal environmental impact.
Orbex Prime will use a bio-propane propellant made from sustainable resources, such as plant and vegetable waste to reduce the rocket’s environmental footprint. As part of the contract Orbex will build a biopropane purification system at the launch complex.
On the launch pad, a new helium transfer and recovery system is being developed that will use helium gas to push the biopropane into Prime’s tanks while recovering and reusing the helium if a launch has to be delayed – instead of letting the helium gas to escape into the atmosphere.
The launch pad has many installations to safely erect, sustain, and operate the rocket from rollout to launch. All the infrastructure will be efficient while environmentally compliant, minimising waste as well as considering the skyline of the surrounding countryside. The launch pad system will have state-of-the-art environmental compliance while offering efficient operations and rapid turn-around between each launch campaign.
To monitor and ensure reliable and safe operations with low environmental impact a climate analysis outpost will provide Orbex with all the data needed to keep to its commitments.
ESA’s head of strategy for Space Transportation, Lucía Linares, said “Environmental aspects are moving more and more into the focus of space activities for the sustainable use of outer space. ESA supports Orbex in its aim to develop the most environmentally friendly launch system possible.” The contract was signed as part of ESA’s Boost! Initiative.
Martin Coates, Chief Executive Officer, Orbex said, “We would like to thank the UK Space Agency for awarding us this funding as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Boost! Programme. Orbex Prime will be the world’s most environmentally friendly space rocket, and a single launch of the rocket will produce up to 96 per cent less carbon emissions than comparable space launch systems using fossil fuels. This new funding will allow us to undertake activities to build the Ultra-Green Launch Complex at Sutherland Spaceport, from where we look forward to providing the small satellite industry with an option to launch direct from Europe.”