Quarters 2-4, 2025 in Review
Term: April - December | Issue 10 | Date: 23 December 2025
A close look at the work carried out by Skyrora over the last few months
A letter from our CEO
As 2025 draws to a close, I am immensely proud to share the progress Skyrora has made throughout this year.
Volodymyr Levykin, CEO of Skyrora
What began as a period of intense work behind the scenes has culminated in achievements that now shape not only our future trajectory but Scotland’s space industry as a whole.
This year, Skyrora secured our first UK launch licence under the new regulatory framework - a historic milestone that positions us as the only company in Scotland with a launch capability of this scale and ambition. It opens an entirely new horizon for the United Kingdom, unlocking the potential for sustainable, sovereign access to space directly from Scottish soil. The responsibility is enormous, and we are honoured to carry it.
We have also strengthened our leadership team to match the scale of our mission. I am delighted to welcome Dr. Jack James Marlow as our new Chief Operating Officer. JJ’s decades of dedication to engineering and his deep understanding of launch systems make him suited to guide our technical teams with clarity, authority, and dedication. His appointment is part of a broader effort to build a more transparent and efficient vertical structure within the company, supporting future growth and stronger cross-team collaboration.
We are equally proud of Derek Harris, who was appointed Co-Chair of the Space Scotland Environmental Task Force. His leadership in shaping Scotland’s Sustainable Space Roadmap towards 2035 demonstrates Skyrora’s commitment to environmental responsibility and our belief that innovation must always go hand-in-hand with sustainability.
This year saw multiple engine tests, including firings of our largest engines to date, bringing the Skyrora XL launch vehicle closer to its inaugural flight. We continued to push technological boundaries through European programmes such as MADE-3D and ESA’s GSTP, advancing next-generation materials, propulsion, and manufacturing processes. None of this would be possible without the exceptional people who make up Skyrora. From our team leads and engineers to operations, management, and support teams - each person brings not only expertise, but heart, resilience, and a shared belief in our mission. We are privileged to have such a remarkable group of individuals with us. Their hard work this year has been nothing short of outstanding.
We move into 2026 with a sense of purpose and optimism. Our path forward is bright, powered by innovation, grounded in responsibility, and driven by a deeply human desire to make the world safer, smarter, and better connected. Thank you for being part of the journey. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026 - may it be full of ideas, progress, and new horizons.
While the first quarter of 2025 set a strong foundation, the remainder of the year proved transformational. Here is a comprehensive overview of Skyrora’s key developments, programmes, and milestones from April to December.
Skyrora Secures its First UK Launch Licence
In one of the most significant developments in the history of the UK’s commercial space sector, Skyrora secured its first launch licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. This milestone confirms regulatory confidence in the company’s technology, safety systems and operational readiness, and enables progression toward vertical launch operations from Scotland.
The licence establishes the basis for sovereign and sustainable access to space from UK soil, strengthens Scotland’s position within Europe’s launch market, and aligns with national objectives around space resilience and innovation. For Skyrora, it represents a clear transition from development into implementation and places the company firmly on the path toward operational launch capability.
Global Representation: Skyrora on the International Stage
Throughout 2025, Skyrora expanded its international presence through active participation in major global conferences and industry forums. CEO Volodymyr Levykin represented the company at events including the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Web Summit in Lisbon, alongside additional strategic engagements across Europe and beyond.
These appearances supported dialogue with policymakers, investors and industry partners, elevated Skyrora’s international profile, and reinforced the company’s role in discussions around sovereign launch capability, commercial space development and long-term technological cooperation.
Operational Structure and Team Growth
During 2025, Skyrora continued to strengthen its operational structure in line with the company’s transition toward launch readiness. Dr. Jack James Marlow was appointed Chief Operating Officer, supporting the coordination of engineering, testing and operations as programmes advanced. His appointment reflects a focus on clearer responsibility, operational consistency and delivery as Skyrora prepares for the next phase of activity.
Alongside this, the company expanded its workforce significantly, welcoming a number of new engineers, technicians and specialists across multiple functions. This growth reflects increasing programme maturity and the need to support testing, manufacturing, infrastructure development and future product lines. The expanding team has played a key role in maintaining delivery momentum while strengthening internal collaboration.
Sustainability and Responsible Growth
Skyrora’s commitment to responsible space activity was further reinforced by the appointment of Derek Harris, Director of Business Development, as Co-Chair of the Space Scotland Environmental Task Force. Through this role, Skyrora contributes directly to shaping Scotland’s Space Sustainability Roadmap to 2035, supporting the development of environmentally responsible launch practices and long-term sector policy.
This work reflects Skyrora’s view that technological progress and environmental responsibility must advance together, particularly as launch activity increases across Europe.
Advancing Propulsion and Launch Readiness
Throughout the year, Skyrora conducted extensive propulsion testing campaigns, including multiple firings of its largest 70 kN engines to date. These activities validated manufacturing techniques, supported performance optimisation and marked the start of testing upgraded engine variants designed to support future production scalability.
Together, these efforts have significantly advanced the readiness of the Skyrora XL programme and strengthened confidence in the company’s propulsion architecture as it moves closer to inaugural launch.
European Innovation and Future Capabilities
Skyrora continued its participation in European innovation programmes, including the MADE-3D consortium and ESA’s General Support Technology Programme. Through these initiatives, the company is advancing additive manufacturing techniques and developing next-generation rocket materials, supporting improved performance, durability and manufacturing efficiency.
At the same time, Skyrora has begun shaping new product portfolios aligned with future market needs, while investing in infrastructure to support expanded testing, manufacturing and operational capacity. These efforts are intended to ensure long-term scalability and resilience as launch activities increase.
Skylark L and Technology Demonstration
At SpaceComm Glasgow 2025, for the first time in the UK, Skyrora presented the Skylark L launch vehicle, which is now technically ready for launch. The vehicle attracted strong interest from industry stakeholders, academic institutions and research organisations, highlighting confidence in Skyrora’s approach to responsive and flexible launch solutions.
The event also demonstrated the growing maturity of Skyrora’s engineering teams and the coordination required to deliver flight-ready systems.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As 2025 concludes, Skyrora enters the new year with regulatory approval in place, launch vehicles nearing flight readiness, a growing team, and a clear roadmap for product development and infrastructure expansion. With strong foundations established, the company is well positioned for the next stage of its journey.
Skyrora thanks its partners, collaborators, research institutions and the wider space community for their continued support.
From All of Us at Skyrora
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026 – a year full of bright ideas, new opportunities, and extraordinary orbits ahead.
