US rocket firm plans Scottish launches in bid to revive failed Highland spaceport

Colorado-based LEAP wants to make Sutherland its first launch base outside America, raising hopes of new jobs, rocket manufacturing and a European space hub after the collapse of the site’s previous developer

An American rocket company has unveiled plans to launch spacecraft from the Scottish Highlands, offering fresh hope for a spaceport left in limbo after its original developer collapsed earlier this year.

Colorado-based LEAP has signed an agreement with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to explore regular launches from Sutherland Spaceport, potentially making the site its first operational base outside the U.S.

The announcement could revive the project after British rocket manufacturer Orbex entered administration in February, followed by the liquidation of Sutherland Spaceport Ltd in June. HIE acquired the developer’s assets in August and has since been seeking a new operator.

LEAP wants to make Sutherland part of a global launch network serving European customers, with the possibility of establishing its European headquarters in the UK and creating manufacturing, engineering and other skilled jobs in the Highlands.

The company is developing rockets to carry small satellites into orbit, alongside a more ambitious service intended to transport urgent cargo between locations on Earth in minutes.

Initial operations would use its Bullfrog vehicle, recently tested in California’s Mojave Desert, before progressing to larger Bighorn rockets designed for suborbital, point-to-point and orbital missions.

Chris Beckman, LEAP’s chief executive, said: “We’re not just building a rocket. We’re building a global logistics network, and a network needs launch sites wherever customers require them. Sutherland is an ideal starting point for a network that begins in Europe, and HIE shares our ambition to make recurring spaceflight from Scotland real.”

The plans could extend beyond launches to include rocket manufacturing, testing facilities, recruitment, university partnerships and opportunities for Scottish suppliers.

LEAP intends to manufacture its vehicles using modular factories, each designed to produce more than 30 rockets annually, alongside transportable launch equipment that would allow it to expand into new locations.

The proposed spaceport occupies a 10.4-acre site on the A’ Mhoine peninsula near Tongue, on land owned by the Melness Crofters’ Estate. Infrastructure work had already begun under the previous development, including a 2.5-kilometre access road.

HIE holds a 75-year lease on the land and hopes a new operator can help establish Scotland as a centre for European spaceflight.

David Oxley, HIE’s Director of Strategic Projects, said: “There’s worldwide demand for modern launch facilities and Sutherland is perfectly positioned to be used by a range of companies and help establish Scotland as a major centre of European spaceflight.”

Scotland’s northern location and access to open sea make it attractive for certain satellite launches, particularly those requiring polar and sun-synchronous orbits.

LEAP has already held discussions with the UK Space Agency, Civil Aviation Authority and Scottish Government, as well as visiting Edinburgh, Glasgow, Machrihanish and locations around Inverness.

Scottish Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn welcomed the agreement, saying it could help unlock the economic potential of the site.

“This Memorandum of Understanding is good news for Scotland’s space sector and in particular for businesses and communities in the Highlands and Islands, bringing renewed impetus to unlocking the exciting economic potential of the Sutherland Spaceport,” he said.

No launch date has been set, and LEAP has yet to confirm how much it plans to invest or how many jobs could be created. The company must also secure regulatory approval and finalise its commercial arrangements before rockets can take off from Sutherland. 

But Dorothy Pritchard, chair of the Melness Crofters’ Estate, welcomed LEAP’s interest, saying the company recognised the wider economic opportunities a successful spaceport could bring to local communities.

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_{Main image: A sweeping aerial view of a loch in the Scottish Highlands, where American rocket company LEAP is planning to establish its first European launch base at Sutherland Spaceport. The proposed development could revive the stalled project and bring new jobs, investment and rocket manufacturing opportunities to northern Scotland. Credit: Clément Proust / Pexels}