The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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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, UK, 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.
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.
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. The contract was signed as part of ESA’s Boost! Initiative.