Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • Orbex selected for The Sunday Times Fast Track Disruptors to Watch

Space

Orbex selected for The Sunday Times Fast Track Disruptors to Watch

Orbex the UK-based spaceflight company, has been recognised for its disruptive potential in The Sunday Times Fast Track Disruptors to Watch.



Above:
Orbex's headquarters in Forres, Scotland.
Courtesy Orbex

The accolade is based on research across a cross-section of UK industries that examined factors such as business model, management team, investor credibility and total funds raised.

This year’s Disruptors to Watch 10 was published in the Fast Track 100 supplement in the Sunday Times on 1st December: the overall winner will be announced at the Fast Track 100 dinner in May. Past winners include Graphcore, the chip manufacturer backed by Sequoia Capital and the co-founder of ARM Holdings. Orbex is the only manufacturer and the only company based in Scotland on the shortlist.
 
Orbex recently let cameras into its working rocket factory in Scotland for the first time revealing how the company is using advanced engineering techniques and materials to create the next generation of renewably-fuelled European orbital launch vehicles.
 
Uniquely for a commercial rocket, Prime will use bio-propane, a clean-burning and completely renewable fuel that also reduces carbon emissions by 90% compared to conventional rocket fuels. 
 
“We’re creating rockets in a way that hasn’t been done before,” said Chris Larmour, Orbex CEO. “Our objective as a private enterprise 'NewSpace' company is to provide faster, better and cheaper access to space. As a modern space business we’ve adopted a disruptive approach to manufacturing to be faster, more agile and more flexible.”
 
Orbex has already secured multiple commercial agreements to take small satellites into orbit from the proposed spaceports in Sutherland, Scotland and the Azores. 
 

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Funding available to advance UK space tech

Space

Funding available to advance UK space tech

30 March 2026

UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £14.7 million in funding from the UK Space Agency, unlocking new opportunities to develop cutting-edge space technologies and strengthen the UK’s industrial capability.

National Space Centre wins at Cultural Enterprises Awards

Space Events

National Space Centre wins at Cultural Enterprises Awards

26 March 2026

The National Space Centre has won the Best Venue Hire Initiative category at the national Cultural Enterprises Awards.

Pulsar Fusion demos its nuclear fusion rocket’s first plasma

Space Events

Pulsar Fusion demos its nuclear fusion rocket’s first plasma

26 March 2026

UK based space propulsion company developing advanced propulsion technologies for satellite and deep-space markets, Pulsar Fusion, today announced it has achieved 'first plasma' in its Sunbird nuclear fusion exhaust test system.

Surrey Space Institute enhances expertise with new apppointments

Space

Surrey Space Institute enhances expertise with new apppointments

24 March 2026

New staff joining the Surrey Space Institute team have brought substantial space expertise to help deliver industry partnerships, space missions and positive impact.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Fiona Walters takes over as Serco’s UK & Europe CEO

Defence Security Space

Fiona Walters takes over as Serco’s UK & Europe CEO

24 March 2026

Fiona Walters has taken up her role as CEO of the UK & Europe division of Serco, having joined Serco in September 2025 from G4S, where she was Regional CEO for the UK & Ireland, leading a team of more than 30,000 people.

Spectra launches GENSS production version

Defence Space Events

Spectra launches GENSS production version

23 March 2026

Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, specialists in delivering secure, reliable and resilient beyond line-of-sight communications for operations in denied and contested environments, has formally launched the production version of GENSS at the Satellite Show.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner