German rocket firm HyImpulse wins CAA licence to blast off from Shetland in spring 2027

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026 · last updated 2 October 2026.

HyImpulse's SR75 suborbital rocket has been cleared for launch from SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst after the Civil Aviation Authority granted the German firm its UK launch operator licence on Thursday. Chief executive Christian Schmierer called it the "most important regulatory milestone" and said the SR75 is "ready for flight." The 2.5-tonne rocket will be used for microgravity and hypersonic flight research rather than satellite delivery. HyImpulse has maintained a partnership with SaxaVord since 2021 and is already working on a larger orbital vehicle, the SL1, intended for future launches from the same spaceport.

The SR75 can operate in a broader range of weather conditions than most rockets, giving Shetland launches a wider operational window.

SaxaVord chief executive Scott Hammond praised the licence as "the culmination of a huge amount of work" by HyImpulse and the CAA.

The announcement comes after rival Rocket Factory Augsburg was forced to push back its own Shetland launch schedule following a hot-fire test problem in July.