SaxaVord and HyImpulse Sign Launch Agreement to Advance European Launch Capabilities
HyImpulse Technologies GmbH (“HyImpulse”), a European launch services provider with operations in Germany and the United Kingdom, has signed a launch services agreement with SaxaVord Spaceport for the second flight of its SR75 suborbital launch vehicle.
The mission is targeted for later this year and will mark HyImpulse’s first launch from European territory.
The agreement follows the successful inaugural lift-off of SR75 from Koonibba, Australia, where the vehicle demonstrated stable flight validating system performance under operational conditions. The mission confirmed the maturity of HyImpulse’s proprietary hybrid propulsion technology.
Under the agreement, SaxaVord will provide launch infrastructure and operational support for the launch of the SR75. The collaboration contributes to strengthening distributed and resilient launch capabilities across Europe.
Demand for fast, flexible and cost-efficient launch services continues to expand globally. Suborbital missions enable microgravity research, atmospheric testing and payload qualification ahead of orbital deployment. The SR75 mission from SaxaVord will provide institutional and commercial customers with reliable access to high-altitude, hypersonic speed and microgravity environments while reinforcing Europe’s capacity to conduct launches from its own territory.
Scott Hammond, CEO of SaxaVord Spaceport, said: “This is the culmination of our long-standing partnership with HyImpulse and further strengthens SaxaVord’s position at the vanguard of UK vertical space launch. We look forward to working with the HyImpulse team in support of this mission and further expanding launch activity from our spaceport.”
Dr. Christian Schmierer, Co-Founder and CEO of HyImpulse, said: “The successful first lift-off of SR75 marked an important milestone. Establishing launch operations in Europe is the next step in our roadmap and supports the continued development of sovereign launch capabilities.”
Matt Archer, Director of Launch at the UK Space Agency, said: “The National Space Innovation Programme exists to back ambitious companies like HyImpulse, and today’s agreement with SaxaVord is exactly the kind of partnership that can transform that ambition into reality. Assured access to space means greater resilience for our space sector, new skilled jobs, and a stronger signal to investors that Britain is serious about its place in the new space economy.”
SR75 is a single-stage suborbital launch vehicle designed for microgravity experiments, technology demonstration, and atmospheric research. The vehicle delivers 75 kN of thrust at sea level and reaches altitudes of up to 200 kilometres. It carries payloads of up to 250 kilograms, with a two-stage parachute recovery system enabling reliable payload recovery.
The rocket is powered by HyImpulse’s proprietary hybrid engine using paraffin-based solid fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX). Paraffin, being both cost-effective and inherently safe as a fuel, serves as an alternative to conventional liquid or solid fuels and does not have the risk of exploding. This innovative design significantly simplifies the construction of launch vehicles, cutting costs by a remarkable 40 percent compared to traditional propulsion systems.
HyImpulse maintains a growing operational presence in the United Kingdom, including engineering and commercial activities. The mission from SaxaVord will further strengthen the company’s UK footprint, support high-skilled employment, and contribute to the development of domestic end-to-end space capabilities.