A SCOTTISH space firm has become the first in the country to win a licence to launch satellites from British soil.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted the Cumbernauld-based company, Skyrora, permission to launch its suborbital rocket, Skylark, with the search is now on to find a suitable launch pad.

The 12-metre single-stage rocket would take a 50kg payload to 500 kilometres before returning to Earth, though not the feat — achieved by the Soviet Union almost seven decades ago — of delivering a satellite into orbit.

In time however, the company hopes to launch a 23-metre XL version as many as eight times a year in a bid to capitalise on demand to deliver new satellites tino space.

Skyrora’s Volodymyr Levykin said they were looking forward to actually launching, adding: “This is a huge milestone for us because maybe 70 per cent of the work has been done.”

CAA chief executive Rob Bishton said: “Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora, its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation.”

Scottish government business minister Richard Lochhead hailed it as a “landmark moment,” while Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “This launch licence isn’t just one giant leap for Skyrora — it’s a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK’s space sector.”

UK space minister Sir Chris Bryant added: “This is an industry that is creating jobs and driving growth right across the UK right now, including Scotland, where Skyrora is based and from where their rockets will launch.

“As part of our modern industrial strategy, we are determined to unleash the space industry’s full economic potential — rocket-boosting the plan for change.”