While UK-based launch startup Orbex is currently focusing on completing the construction of Sutherland Spaceport and launching the maiden flight of its microlauncher Prime, the company is already looking forward to what comes next.
Orbex is currently working on its two-stage microlauncher called Prime, which is powered by what the company calls bio-propane. In December, the company received a £3.3 million UK Space Agency grant to build a propellant plant at Sutherland Spaceport that it will use to produce the green propellant using plant and vegetable waste. Once operational, Prime will be capable of deploying up to 180 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, new Orbex CEO Phil Chambers, who was officially appointed earlier this month, stated that the company was already discussing the possibility of developing a larger vehicle. The article did, however, not elaborate much on the company’s reasoning behind the discussions.
Speaking to European Spaceflight, Chambers described the business model to deliver orbital launch services with Prime as “robust.” Despite this, he admitted that the small launch industry was only a small sliver of the overall launch market.
“It’s clear that the small launch industry is only at the tip of the iceberg,” Chambers said. “The sector has propelled forward in recent years, and as it advances, we anticipate future growth opportunities.”
While future growth is on the company’s radar, its focus is on completing the construction of the spaceport, launching a maiden flight, and delivering on the six flights the company has already sold.
“While exploring options for scaling are undoubtedly on the table in the long term, our full focus currently is on our upcoming milestones with Orbex Prime – completing Sutherland Spaceport, testing, and our maiden launch,” explained Chambers.
Leadership shakeup
Orbex has had a fair degree of uncertainty within its leadership over the last twelve months. Chris Larmour, who had served as the company’s CEO since its founding in 2015, stepped down in April 2023. Kristian von Bengtson, the company’s chief development officer, took over the role for a short time until Martin Coates took over as interim CEO in May. As a result, with the appointment of Chambers, the company has now had four different CEOs in less than 12 months.
Chambers joined Orbex from Peakon, a company he co-founded, which was later sold to Workday for $700 million. Over two decades, he has made a habit of successfully scaling startups into profitable businesses, a skill that should make him the perfect man for the moment at Orbex. Chambers is not new to Orbex, though. Before coming aboard as CEO, he was an investor, having contributed to the company’s £40.4-million Series C funding round.
In addition to an announcement of a new CEO earlier this month, Orbex also announced the appointment of a new executive chair of the company’s board. Belló Mora joins the company’s board from his roles as the director general of the Spanish Space Agency and the commissioner for Spain’s Aerospace Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation. Before that, Mora founded and served as CEO of the DEIMOS space group. He will, as a result, bring an incredible amount of experience and insight to the company’s board.
