SKYRORA, the Edinburgh-based rocket company, has appointed SpaceX veteran Lee Rosen as chief operations officer as it gears up for its maiden launch from British soil, in Shetland.
Mr Rosen brings extensive operational expertise to the role as a veteran of over 150 missions with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The retired US Air Force Colonel is also ex-vice president of mission and launch operations and customer operations and integration at SpaceX.
The move comes as the Scottish company aims to work towards 16 launches per year from the Saxavord launch complex in the Shetland Islands by 2030.
Mr Rosen has built experience as an engineer, space operator, and acquisition professional over the course of his career, first discovering his passion for launch at an early age as the president of his high school rocketry club.
He spent 23 years in the US Air Force with command tours at both launch bases, Vandenberg Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral, prior to joining SpaceX.
He started as a launch site director, leading on the construction of the Vandenberg launch site for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.
He then led the team responsible for launch operations and then government, civil and commercial mission management and the team that operated, and trained astronauts to fly the Dragon spacecraft.
He said: “With Skyrora leading the way in UK launch and building infrastructure for the future of the UK’s space economy, it’s an exciting time to join the company.
“Currently, the UK is completely reliant on the US and, although this is a crucial relationship, Skyrora is building towards a future when space capabilities in this country will allow for regular sovereign launches.”
Mr Rosen also said: “Space capability is now critical to providing an edge when it comes to defence.
“Skyrora’s mobile, agile and responsive launch and on-orbit capability can provide the UK with something it has been missing and bolster its special relationship with the US.
“Additionally, we’re setting an example for the space industry with a responsible and sustainable attitude towards spaceflight."
READ MORE: Edinburgh-based company to launch rockets from UK
He said: “We need to ensure that our environment is cared for. This doesn’t just mean launching remote sensing and Earth observation satellites but ensuring that space companies are planning their launches and manufacturing with sustainability both on earth and in outer space at the core.”
Skyrora last year agreed a multi-launch deal over the next decade for the site on Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands.
The company is sending its 23-metre long, 56-tonne XL rocket to deliver satellites into orbit from this year.
Once operational, the SaxaVord Spaceport is expected to create 140 jobs locally, with an additional 70 jobs across Shetland.
READ MORE: First rocket launched from Shetland soil
Volodymyr Levykin, founder and chief executive of Skyrora, said: “Developing sovereign, mobile and sustainably focused launch services is of the utmost importance for the UK’s ability to follow through on its commitments to address climate change, provide cutting edge defence capabilities, and fulfil its potential in the emerging global space economy."
He added: "Having completed some 200 launches over the course of his career, we’re delighted that Lee has joined Skyrora and offering his unparalleled leadership and expertise to the team as we continue to hit crucial milestones in our push towards a maiden launch from UK soil.”
Skyrora also said: “The milestone is now set for as early as 2023 as we are in the process of getting our launch license application granted from the CAA.
“No launcher in the UK has been able to obtain this so far because the legislation for launch in the UK is so new.”
Skyrora, which has 160 employees, also opened a new engine testing facility in Midlothian in March.
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