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
Hexagon leaderboard
UK plays key role in SMILE mission launched to examine Earth’s magnetic shield

Space

UK plays key role in SMILE mission launched to examine Earth’s magnetic shield

19 May 2026

UK scientists and companies are at the heart of the pioneering Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission - launched into orbit today - that will transform our understanding of how Earth is protected from the Sun.

BAE Systems delivers US Space Force missile warning sensor system

Defence Space

BAE Systems delivers US Space Force missile warning sensor system

18 May 2026

BAE Systems has delivered the sensor subassembly and sensor system controller components for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (NGP) programme, providing advanced missile warning, technical intelligence and battlespace characterisation mission capabilities, for the US Space Force.

Iridium to acquire Aireon

Aerospace Space

Iridium to acquire Aireon

15 May 2026

Iridium Communications Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aireon LLC, operator of the world's only space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) air traffic surveillance system, with the transaction unifying the world's only space-based air traffic surveillance system with the satellite network it was ...

Tim Peake returns to National Space Centre

Space Events

Tim Peake returns to National Space Centre

13 May 2026

Ten years to the day since Tim Peake’s dramatic return to Earth, Britain’s most renowned astronaut will be returning to the National Space Centre to celebrate not only the milestone but also the continuation of his inspirational legacy.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Space mission to study alien worlds clears test milestone

Space

Space mission to study alien worlds clears test milestone

12 May 2026

The Ariel payload has cleared a major test milestone, paving the way for the mission that will uncover the secrets of over 1,000 alien worlds.

CSpO meets to advance operational efforts

Defence Space

CSpO meets to advance operational efforts

12 May 2026

The Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative Principals’ Board convened in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where senior representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the UK and USA, addressed the rapidly evolving security dynamics of the space domain.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB