announced<\/a> he will step down at the end of March as the agency transitions from a standalone body into a government department, and a few months after the UK became the only country to diminish its ESA ministerial budget from the previous round.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cWe remain committed to supporting our dynamic space sector,\u201d A U.K. government spokesperson told SpaceNews. \u201cWe recognize this will be a very worrying time for staff at Orbex. Space launch is a highly competitive sector, and it has always been the case that some companies will succeed, while others will fail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be setting out more details about our plans for developing key national space capabilities, including launch, in due course,\u201d the spokesperson added. \u201cAny decisions will be focused on ensuring maximum impact for taxpayers\u2019 money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott Hammond, CEO of SaxaVord Spaceport, which had been designated as the launch site for future Orbex missions, said in a press release that \u00a0\u201cWhile this is a sad day for Orbex, it will have very little impact on SaxaVord. While we had agreed Heads of Terms with the company, Orbex had never reached a position to start on site at SaxaVord and let us develop infrastructure for them to launch from. For us, fortunately, it is business as usual as we work with our other clients.\u201d<\/p>\n
ESA told SpaceNews that the situation at Orbex underscores the realities of the evolving space sector. \u201cThrough initiatives like the ELC, we are supporting ambitious ventures and fostering a dynamic ecosystem. This approach is essential to driving progress, even as it comes with inherent challenges,\u201d an ESA spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Orbex will continue trading while leaders debate the future of the company, including a potential sale of all or parts of its business or assets. It remains possible that certain assets or business units could be sold separately to different buyers.<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s Note (Feb. 11, 2026): This article has been updated to include comment from ESA.<\/p>\n
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