The facility on the Melness Crofters Estate had stalled when former developer Orbex halted construction in 2024 prior to its collapse. Leap plans to use the north-west Highlands location to deploy factory-built rockets carrying small satellites for UK and continental European clients. Backed by regional development officials and Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, the venture aims to drive long-term regional economic benefits. Scotland's broader space sector is also accelerating, with the UK and German governments recently agreeing to utilize Shetland's licensed SaxaVord spaceport.
Key points
The proposed acquisition would establish the Scottish facility as Leap's first operationa…: The proposed acquisition would establish the Scottish facility as Leap's first operational rocket launch site located outside the United States.
Regional leadership and local crofters view the revived spaceport project as an opportuni…: Regional leadership and local crofters view the revived spaceport project as an opportunity to secure sustained economic growth.
International interest in Scottish launch infrastructure continues to expand through bila…: International interest in Scottish launch infrastructure continues to expand through bilateral government agreements and foreign commercial investments.
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A rockets manufacturer says the mothballed Sutherland Spaceport could become its first launch site outside the US.
Colorado-based Leap has agreed to work with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which owns the area of peatland near Tongue, to develop the plans.
Little work has been done at the site after Moray-headquartered rockets firm Orbex put construction on hold in 2024. The company later collapsed and its assets were sold off.
Leap said the spaceport could potentially be used for launching small satellites for customers in the UK and mainland Europe.
Leap is designing rockets that could be mass produced in factories.
Chief executive Chris Beckman 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."
HIE and Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn have welcomed the agreement.
The site is on Melness Crofters Estate, an area of small-scale farms on the A'…
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