https://www.spacebandits.io/countries/united-kingdom Dated, sourced milestones from the space companies in the United Kingdom that Space Bandits tracks. en https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2026-08-25/Highlands and Islands Enterprise buys the Sutherland Spaceport assets from the liquidators, six months after Orbex entered administration Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Highlands and Islands Enterprise buys the Sutherland Spaceport assets from the liquidators, six months after Orbex entered administration. Source: https://europeanspaceflight.com/orbexs-sutherland-spaceport-assets-sold-to-scottish-development-agency https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2026-07-07/Administrators report £689,000 cash against a £117 million deficit Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Administrators report £689,000 cash against a £117 million deficit. Source: https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/07/07/orbex-bankruptcy-details-released/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2026-06-29/HotSat-2 enters commercial service Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT HotSat-2 enters commercial service. Source: https://spacenews.com/satvu-restarts-commercial-operations-with-hotsat-2/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-forge space-forge/2026-06-11/An ESA grant of £10M funds a mission to launch Pridwen, its fold-out heat shield, and bring it back to Earth Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT An ESA grant of £10M funds a mission to launch Pridwen, its fold-out heat shield, and bring it back to Earth. Source: https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2026/06/11/space-forge-secures-backing-to-develop-heat-shield https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines reaction-engines/2026-06/An undisclosed buyer completes an £884,000 purchase of the IP Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT An undisclosed buyer completes an £884,000 purchase of the IP. Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/06/undisclosed-buyer-finalises-deal-for-reaction-engines-assets/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bioorbit bioorbit/2026-05/Closes a £9.8M seed co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Closes a £9.8M seed co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega. Source: https://payloadspace.com/bioorbit-raises-9-8m-seed-to-manufacture-cancer-drugs-in-orbit/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2026-05/HotSat-2 returns first light imagery of three energy sites Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT HotSat-2 returns first light imagery of three energy sites. Source: https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/satvus-hotsat-2-first-light-images-reveal-live-activity-at-three-globally-strategic-energy-sites/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/isotropic-systems isotropic-systems/2026-04/York Space Systems agrees to acquire the company, which continues as All.Space under CEO Paul McCarter Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT York Space Systems agrees to acquire the company, which continues as All.Space under CEO Paul McCarter. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/06/16/all-space-relocates-to-us-amid-york-space-acquisition-process/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2026-03/HotSat-2 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-16 Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT HotSat-2 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-16. Source: https://orbitaltoday.com/2026/04/12/uks-satvu-expands-thermal-eyes-in-the-sky-with-hotsat-2-launch/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2026-02-17/Closes £30 million round backed by NATO Innovation Fund Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Closes £30 million round backed by NATO Innovation Fund. Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/02/17/satvu-closes-funding-round/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2026-02-11/Enters administration after a failed Series D and sale talks Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Enters administration after a failed Series D and sale talks. Source: https://spacenews.com/uk-launcher-orbex-files-for-administration-after-failed-funding-efforts/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/magdrive magdrive/2026-02/Its orbital demo proves charging and plasma generation but never maneuvers the spacecraft Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Its orbital demo proves charging and plasma generation but never maneuvers the spacecraft. Source: https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/magdrives-plasma-thruster-proves-its-mettle-in-first-orbital-test/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/oxford-space-systems oxford-space-systems/2026-01/Wrapped Rib antenna deploys in orbit for the first time, on SSTL’s CarbSAR mission Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Wrapped Rib antenna deploys in orbit for the first time, on SSTL’s CarbSAR mission. Source: https://spacenews.com/oxford-space-systems-wrapped-rib-antenna-successfully-deployed-in-orbit-on-carbsar-mission/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-forge space-forge/2025-12/Fires its orbital furnace to 1,000°C and generates plasma on ForgeStar-1, a first for commercial in-space manufacturing Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT Fires its orbital furnace to 1,000°C and generates plasma on ForgeStar-1, a first for commercial in-space manufacturing. Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/a-completely-new-manufacturing-frontier-space-forge-fires-up-1st-commercial-semiconductor-factory-in-space https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-forge space-forge/2025-10-23/Pridwen, its fold-out heat shield, deploys in weightlessness on a ZeroG parabolic flight Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT Pridwen, its fold-out heat shield, deploys in weightlessness on a ZeroG parabolic flight. Source: https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/pridwen-heat-shield-deploys-in-zero-gravity-space-forge-and-zerog-mark-step-towards-scalable-space-manufacturing https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/open-cosmos open-cosmos/2025-10/Completes the landmark MANTIS imaging mission Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT Completes the landmark MANTIS imaging mission. Source: https://satnews.com/2025/10/27/open-cosmos-celebrates-completion-of-landmark-mantis-mission/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/skyrora skyrora/2025-08/Becomes the first British company licensed to launch from the UK, with a CAA operator licence for Skylark L Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT Becomes the first British company licensed to launch from the UK, with a CAA operator licence for Skylark L. Source: https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/regulator-grants-first-space-launch-licence-for-a-uk-based-rocket-company/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2025-07-07/Preselected by ESA for the European Launcher Challenge Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMT Preselected by ESA for the European Launcher Challenge. Source: https://spacenews.com/esa-selects-five-companies-for-next-phase-of-launcher-competition/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bioorbit bioorbit/2025-06/Its first crystallisation unit is lost when The Exploration Company’s capsule fails to land Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT Its first crystallisation unit is lost when The Exploration Company’s capsule fails to land. Source: https://spacenews.com/the-exploration-company-claims-partial-success-of-mission-possible-reentry-spacecraft/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/magdrive magdrive/2025-06/Flies two Rogue metal-plasma thrusters on a D-Orbit vehicle, its first flight hardware Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT Flies two Rogue metal-plasma thrusters on a D-Orbit vehicle, its first flight hardware. Source: https://www.ukspace.org/magdrive-launches-first-flight-of-next-generation-plasma-thruster/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines reaction-engines/2025-06/Administrators line up a sale of the hypersonic technology Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT Administrators line up a sale of the hypersonic technology. Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/2025/06/reaction-engines-administrators-line-up-sale-of-hypersonic-technology/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-forge space-forge/2025-06/ForgeStar-1, the UK’s first in-space manufacturing satellite, launches on Transporter-14 Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT ForgeStar-1, the UK’s first in-space manufacturing satellite, launches on Transporter-14. Source: https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/space-forge-launches-in-space-manufacturing-satellite-forgestar-1/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/magdrive magdrive/2025-02/Raises a $10.5M seed led by Redalpine and opens a US office Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT Raises a $10.5M seed led by Redalpine and opens a US office. Source: https://spacenews.com/magdrive-raises-10-5-million-and-opens-u-s-office/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2025-01-29/UK government invests £20 million, taking Series D to £23 million Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT UK government invests £20 million, taking Series D to £23 million. Source: https://advanced-television.com/2025/01/29/uk-government-invests-20m-in-orbex/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2024-12/Halts work on its own spaceport and moves first launch to SaxaVord Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT Halts work on its own spaceport and moves first launch to SaxaVord. Source: https://spacenews.com/orbex-halts-work-on-own-spaceport-shifts-launches-to-saxavord/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2024-11-28/Raises £20 million from equity round and insurance payout Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Raises £20 million from equity round and insurance payout. Source: https://spaceinsider.tech/2024/11/28/satvu-secures-20m-to-expand-high-resolution-thermal-imaging-constellation/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines reaction-engines/2024-10-31/Enters administration, cutting 173 of 208 staff Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMT Enters administration, cutting 173 of 208 staff. Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/01/reaction_engines_administration/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/magdrive magdrive/2024-08/Signs with D-Orbit to fly its electric propulsion as a hosted payload Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT Signs with D-Orbit to fly its electric propulsion as a hosted payload. Source: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/05/2924579/0/en/Magdrive-Signs-Contract-with-D-Orbit-to-Test-Their-Electrical-Propulsion-System.html https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-talos space-talos/2024-07/Dissolved at Companies House without any announcement Mon, 01 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMT Dissolved at Companies House without any announcement. Source: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search?q=space+talos https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2024-04-18/Raises £16.7 million for Sutherland spaceport and Prime Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT Raises £16.7 million for Sutherland spaceport and Prime. Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/18/orbexs-new-funding-may-accelerate-its-prime-microlauncher-into-orbit/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-impulse space-impulse/2024-04/Launches its space market intelligence platform Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT Launches its space market intelligence platform. Source: https://spaceinsider.tech/2024/04/03/navigating-the-new-space-economy-the-space-impulse-market-intelligence-platform/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/sen sen/2024-03/SpaceTV-1’s 4K cameras reach the ISS on CRS-30 and are installed on the Bartolomeo platform Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT SpaceTV-1’s 4K cameras reach the ISS on CRS-30 and are installed on the Bartolomeo platform. Source: https://about.sen.com/sen-4k-video-cameras-head-to-the-international-space-station/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2023-12/HotSat-1 fails in orbit six months after launch Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT HotSat-1 fails in orbit six months after launch. Source: https://www.imveurope.com/article/hotsat-1-thermal-imaging-satellite-fails-orbit https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/bioorbit bioorbit/2023-11/Joins the ESA business incubator in the UK with UK Space Agency support Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMT Joins the ESA business incubator in the UK with UK Space Agency support. Source: https://esa-bic.org.uk/2023/11/07/uk-start-up-to-develop-tech-for-pharma-factory-in-space/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/open-cosmos open-cosmos/2023-11/MANTIS and PLATERO reach orbit on Transporter-9, joining the shared OpenConstellation Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMT MANTIS and PLATERO reach orbit on Transporter-9, joining the shared OpenConstellation. Source: https://news.satnews.com/2023/11/13/open-cosmos-mantis-platero-satellites-reach-orbit-with-openconstellation-launch/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2023-06-12/HotSat-1 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-8 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMT HotSat-1 launched on Falcon 9 Transporter-8. Source: https://news.satnews.com/2023/06/19/satvus-hotsat-1-is-successfully-launched/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/shipinspace shipinspace/2023-01/Dissolved at Companies House Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMT Dissolved at Companies House. Source: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08023125 https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-forge space-forge/2023-01/ForgeStar-0 is lost on Virgin Orbit’s failed Start Me Up mission, the first orbital launch attempt from UK soil Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMT ForgeStar-0 is lost on Virgin Orbit’s failed Start Me Up mission, the first orbital launch attempt from UK soil. Source: https://payloadspace.com/historic-virgin-orbit-uk-launch-fails/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines reaction-engines/2023/Raises £40 million led by the UAE Strategic Development Fund Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMT Raises £40 million led by the UAE Strategic Development Fund. Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/2024/11/reaction-engines-to-close-as-cutting-edge-sabre-fails-to-advance/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/ukam ukam/2022-12/Dissolved by voluntary strike-off at Companies House Thu, 01 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMT Dissolved by voluntary strike-off at Companies House. Source: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11658789 https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-impulse space-impulse/2022-11/Acquired by The Quantum Insider to become a market intelligence business Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:00:00 GMT Acquired by The Quantum Insider to become a market intelligence business. Source: https://thequantuminsider.com/2022/11/23/the-quantum-insider-acquires-space-impulse-to-expand-market-intelligence-solutions-to-space-industry/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2022-10-18/Closes £40.4 million Series C led by Scottish National Investment Bank Tue, 18 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT Closes £40.4 million Series C led by Scottish National Investment Bank. Source: https://europeanspaceflight.com/orbex-announces-40-4-million-series-c-funding-round/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/isotropic-systems isotropic-systems/2022-08/Isotropic Systems rebrands as All.Space, unveiling its fifth-generation multi-link terminal Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:00:00 GMT Isotropic Systems rebrands as All.Space, unveiling its fifth-generation multi-link terminal. Source: https://spacenews.com/isotropic-rebrands-as-all-space/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-store space-store/2022-07/Opens a second shop in Oxford's Covered Market Fri, 01 Jul 2022 12:00:00 GMT Opens a second shop in Oxford's Covered Market. Source: https://www.oxmag.co.uk/articles/oxfordandrsquos-innovative-space-store-shows-how-new-technology-is-enhancing-the-retail-experience/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/satvu satvu/2021-10/Raises £15 million Series A led by Seraphim Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:00:00 GMT Raises £15 million Series A led by Seraphim. Source: https://spacenews.com/british-satellite-scale-up-raises-aps15m-in-oversubscribed-series-a-funding/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines reaction-engines/2019-10-22/SABRE precooler validated at Mach 5 airflow temperatures Tue, 22 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT SABRE precooler validated at Mach 5 airflow temperatures. Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/10/22/british-made-hypersonic-engine-passes-key-milestone-at-colorado-test-site/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/space-store space-store/2019-06/Opens its first shop, a proof of concept in Didcot Sat, 01 Jun 2019 12:00:00 GMT Opens its first shop, a proof of concept in Didcot. Source: https://enspire.ox.ac.uk/article/stephen-ringler-founder https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/orbex orbex/2019-02/Prime rocket and single-piece 3D printed engine unveiled Fri, 01 Feb 2019 12:00:00 GMT Prime rocket and single-piece 3D printed engine unveiled. Source: https://newatlas.com/orbex-largest-printed-engine/58387/ https://www.spacebandits.io/startups/reaction-engines reaction-engines/2015-11-02/BAE Systems buys a 20 percent stake for £20.6 million Mon, 02 Nov 2015 12:00:00 GMT BAE Systems buys a 20 percent stake for £20.6 million. Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/business/bae-systems-to-buy-20-percent-stake-in-reaction-engines-ft-idUSKCN0SQ2GK/