Prime (rocket)
Second stage engineering prototype of the Prime orbital rocket | |
| Function | Small payloads to low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Orbex |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Size | |
| Height | 19 m (62 ft) |
| Diameter | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Mass | 18,000 kg (40,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to SSO (500 km or 310 mi) | |
| Mass | 180 kg (400 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Comparable | Electron |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Canceled |
| Launch sites | SaxaVord Spaceport Sutherland spaceport (proposed) Azores spaceport (proposed) |
| First stage | |
| Diameter | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Powered by | 6 |
| Propellant | LOX / bioLPG |
| Second stage | |
| Diameter | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) |
| Powered by | 1 |
| Propellant | LOX / bioLPG |
The Prime rocket was a British light launch vehicle under development by Orbex. Its booster (first stage) was planned to be reusable.[1][2] The rocket's diameter is 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in),[3] and would use a non-toxic bi-propellant consisting of liquid oxygen and propane. First stage reuse was planned to be achieved by a combination of a parachute and four 'petals' which would fold out prior to atmospheric reentry to induce drag and passively reorient the vehicle.[4] It would be capable of launching payloads up to 150 kilograms (330 lb) to a standard 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).[5][2]
In February 2026, the project was canceled as Orbex ceased operations.[6]
Propellants
One cited advantage of using propane is that it remains liquid at cryogenic temperatures, which enables a design where a central carbon-fibre tank of propane is surrounded by an outer tank of liquid oxygen, creating a light structural mass.[5]
Prevously planned flights
In 2022, the maiden flight of Prime was expected to occur in late 2025, subject to the availability of SaxaVord Spaceport and a Civil Aviation Authority launch licence,[7] for Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.[8] In 2025, the first flight was planned for early 2026.[9] Orbex also announced it was chosen by nanosatellite company Astrocast to launch their communications satellites[10][11][12] and by Italian in-orbit logistics company D-Orbit for two other launches.[13]
See also
- European Launcher Challenge – Space launch vehicle development programme of the European Space Agency
- Orbital launchers under development in Europe:
- Ariane Next – Orbital recoverable launch vehicle of the European company ArianeGroup
- Maia – French orbital reusable rocket of the company MaiaSpace
- Miura 5 – European orbital recoverable rocket of the company PLD Space
- Miura Next – European orbital recoverable rocket of the company PLD Space
- RFA One – Space launch vehicle in development
- Spectrum – Two-stage small launch vehicle
References
- ^ "Orbex Prime Micro-Launcher". Orbex. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b Berger, Eric (16 July 2018). "Britain joins the microlaunch space race with a new rocket and spaceport". Ars Technica. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Satellite Launch Vehicle | Orbex Prime Micro-Launcher | Orbex".
- ^ Frizzell, Niamh; Povey, Sian. "Patent secured for 'petal fold' reusable rocket technology". Orbex. Orbital Express Launch Ltd. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b Orbex stakes claim to European smallsat launch market. Jeff Foust, Space News. July 18, 2018.
- ^ "#journeytolaunch #peoplebehindprime #orbexalumni #toplaunchteam #launchuk #europeanlaunch #spaceishard | Orbex | 17 comments". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (30 May 2022). "UK-launched rocket promises to transform microsatellite launch business". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "World's Leading SmallSat Manufacturer, SSTL, Partners with Orbex for UK Launches". SSTL (Press release). 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ Robert Wall (13 June 2025). "Orbex Eyes Early 2026 Inaugural Launch". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Orbex. "Orbex to Launch Nanosatellites for Planet-wide IoT Network | Orbex". orbex.space. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Allison, George (2019-02-14). "Orbex to launch Swiss nanosatellites from UK spaceport in Scotland". Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Dickie, Mure (7 February 2019). "Rocket company starts countdown on space base in Scotland". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-02-03). "Orbex and D-Orbit Ink Two-Launch Agreement". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-07-09.