 Second stage engineering prototype of the Prime orbital rocket | |
| Function | Small payloads to low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Orbex |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Size | |
| Height | 19 m (62 ft) |
| Diameter | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Mass | 18,000 kg (40,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to SSO (500 km or 310 mi) | |
| Mass | 180 kg (400 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Comparable | Shavit 2, Kaituozhe-1, Unha, Electron, Miura 5 |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Under development |
| Launch sites | SaxaVord Spaceport Sutherland spaceport (proposed) Azores spaceport (proposed) |
| First flight | 2025 (planned) |
| First stage | |
| Diameter | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Powered by | 6 |
| Propellant | LOX / bioLPG |
| Second stage | |
| Diameter | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Powered by | 1 |
| Propellant | LOX / bioLPG |
The Prime rocket is a future British light launch vehicle under development by Orbex. Its booster (first stage) is planned to be reusable.[1][2] The rocket's diameter is 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in),[3] and will use a non-toxic bi-propellant consisting of liquid oxygen and propane. First stage reuse is planned to be achieved by a combination of a parachute and four 'petals' which will fold out prior to atmospheric reentry to induce drag and passively reorient the vehicle.[4] It will be capable of launching payloads up to 150 kilograms (330 lb) to a standard 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).[5][2]
Propellants
One cited advantage of using propane is that it remains liquid at cryogenic temperatures, which enables a design where a central carbon-fibre tank of propane is surrounded by an outer tank of liquid oxygen, creating a light structural mass.[5]
Flights
In 2022, the maiden flight of Prime was expected to occur in late 2025, subject to the availability of SaxaVord Spaceport and a Civil Aviation Authority launch licence,[6] for Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.[7] As of 2025, the first flight is planned for early 2026.[8] Orbex also announced it was chosen by nanosatellite company Astrocast to launch their communications satellites[9][10][11] and by Italian in-orbit logistics company D-Orbit for two other launches.[12]
See also
- European Launcher Challenge – Space launch vehicle development programme of the European Space Agency
- Other orbital launchers under development in Europe:
- Ariane Next – Orbital recoverable launch vehicle of the European company ArianeGroup
- Maia – European orbital reusable rocket of the company MaiaSpace
- Miura 5 – European orbital recoverable rocket of the company PLD Space
- Miura Next – European orbital recoverable rocket of the company PLD Space
- RFA One – Space launch vehicle in development
- Spectrum – Two-stage small launch vehicle
References
- ↑ "Orbex Prime Micro-Launcher". Orbex. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- 1 2 Berger, Eric (16 July 2018). "Britain joins the microlaunch space race with a new rocket and spaceport". Ars Technica. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ↑ "Satellite Launch Vehicle | Orbex Prime Micro-Launcher | Orbex".
- ↑ Frizzell, Niamh; Povey, Sian. "Patent secured for 'petal fold' reusable rocket technology". Orbex. Orbital Express Launch Ltd. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- 1 2 Orbex stakes claim to European smallsat launch market. Jeff Foust, Space News. July 18, 2018.
- ↑ Clark, Stephen (30 May 2022). "UK-launched rocket promises to transform microsatellite launch business". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ↑ "World's Leading SmallSat Manufacturer, SSTL, Partners with Orbex for UK Launches". SSTL (Press release). 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ↑ Robert Wall (13 June 2025). "Orbex Eyes Early 2026 Inaugural Launch". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ↑ Orbex. "Orbex to Launch Nanosatellites for Planet-wide IoT Network | Orbex". orbex.space. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ↑ Allison, George (2019-02-14). "Orbex to launch Swiss nanosatellites from UK spaceport in Scotland". Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ↑ Dickie, Mure (7 February 2019). "Rocket company starts countdown on space base in Scotland". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-02-03). "Orbex and D-Orbit Ink Two-Launch Agreement". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-07-09.