SaxaVord UK Spaceport appoints Launch Campaign Manager
Image Courtesy Shetland Space Centre
The founder of Raptor Aerospace, Ben has more than 30 years of hands-on experience of launching atmospheric and sub-orbital rockets from ranges across the UK and around the world.
Also, as SaxaVord UK Spaceport prepares for its first launches in 2022, including the UK Pathfinder project with Lockheed Martin and ABL Systems, he will be a valuable addition to the 21-strong team.
SVSP CEO Frank Strang said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Ben on board. He brings an unparalleled wealth of understanding, knowledge and experience of the launch industry in the UK.
“As we move to the development then operational phases at SaxaVord Spaceport, his contribution to the project will be invaluable on many levels.”
Ben said: “I very much look forward to working with the amazing team at SaxaVord, continuing to use my 30+ years of experience of safely launching rockets in the UK to help get the first commercial space launches from UK soil off the ground.”
Ben has been heavily involved in launch activity in the UK since the early 1990s – initially as an amateur rocket builder during the amateur space race and then as a commercial rocket engineer and launch operator over the past 20 years.
He has amassed a wealth of hands-on experience from making over 1,600 personal rocket launches, some of very large and/or very high altitude rockets, as well as having witnessed or acted as range safety officer for a further 8,000+ launches.
