Orbex to give project update on mothballed Sutherland Spaceport
Members of the public are being invited to attend a meeting to learn more about the latest situation with the Sutherland Spaceport.
The company behind the plans to develop a launch facility at the site at A’ Mhoine, west of Tongue, announced it was pausing its development in December.
Orbex will now launch from SaxaVord in Shetland, but insists that Sutherland will be its “home port” in the longer term.
At the last meeting of the community liaison group in January, attendees asked pressing questions of chief executive Phil Chambers following the shock decision to mothball the north Sutherland site.
The next meeting takes place at the Kyle Centre in Tongue on Monday, June 16 at 7pm.
Orbex said that, in line with the terms of reference, the meeting would be an open public meeting and members of the public are welcome to attend. The agreement states that two meetings must be held each year, with at least one open to the public.
The firm added that the primary purpose of the group is to be the main interface between the community, the Sutherland Spaceport project, the construction contractor and the Launch Site Operator (LSO) for commercial operation.
Following the announcement to pause construction of the spaceport, the agenda will include a short project update delivered by a representative from Orbex, as well as a guest presentation from the University of Northumbria.
A spokesperson confirmed that the project remains paused and that there are currently no new announcements planned regarding construction starting up again at the Sutherland site.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to register their interest at https://forms.office.com/e/XVXvRxFyq2 by 5pm on Thursday, June 12. Questions can also be submitted as part of the registration process.
