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US rockets firm could take over mothballed Highland spaceport
Colorado-based rocket manufacturer Leap has agreed to work with Highlands and Islands Enterprise on plans to develop Sutherland Spaceport as its first launch site outside the United States. The proposal could revive a site left largely undeveloped after Orbex halted construction in 2024 and later collapsed, while supporting launches of small satellites for UK and European customers.
Leap says it is designing rockets for factory mass production and wants launch sites close to its customers. The proposed spaceport is on peatland near Tongue, on Melness Crofters Estate in Sutherland; the estate, HIE and Scotland’s Economy Secretary have welcomed the agreement, which is still a plan. Separately, the UK and Germany have said they intend to use SaxaVord in Shetland for closer space co-operation; it is licensed for up to 30 launches a year.
In short
- Leap may develop Sutherland Spaceport as its first site outside the US.
- The site could serve small-satellite customers in the UK and Europe.
- SaxaVord is licensed for up to 30 launches annually.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Developing Sutherland Spaceport with Leap could give the largely unused site a practical purpose, bring investment and skilled work to the Highlands, and expand launch options for UK and European satellite customers. Supporters may argue that a commercial operator with a stated interest in locating launches near customers could help build a viable domestic space industry and make better use of infrastructure already planned.
The case against
The proposal remains a plan, and the collapse of the previous developer shows the financial and delivery risks of relying on a single company to establish a launch site. Critics may question whether public support and local resources are best directed towards another spaceport, given the environmental sensitivity of the peatland and the separate development of SaxaVord, and may seek clear evidence of local benefit and safeguards before backing the project.
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