This article originally appeared in the January/February issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe

Founded in 2017 and based in Edinburgh, Skyrora is carving a unique path in the UK's burgeoning space sector, and chiselling that pathway is Volodymyr Levykin. Originally from an IT background, Volodymyr, the visionary leader of Skyrora, has a profound commitment to revolutionising space technology.

The journey to space

Originally from Ukraine, Volodymyr moved to Edinburgh 16 years ago “it was the first foreign state I’d ever seen … if you’ve ever been to Edinburgh it’s like a completely different environment to a lot of Europe,” and from there, in 2016, he moved to California’s Silicon Valley exploring what “is the next big thing.”

This exploration led him to recognise the immense potential of the space industry, which was inspired by the likes of Elon Musk and the Silicon Valley ethos.

“They said [the next big thing] is bots, which would be called AI now … but the advantages were not so obvious back then, but what was clear was that the space industry was definitely the next big thing.

“Inspired by Musk, multiple billionaires started to invest in space because [Musk’s] first achievement is not going to be the last one … I realised that a number of people in Silicon Valley started to invest in space in one way or another; either data analytics, subsidisation, satellites manufacturing and such. Nobody mentioned rockets – so I decided to go back to the UK and be the first British private orbital launcher.”

With this, Skyrora came into being.

Disrupting the space industry

Envisioning itself as a 'space taxi' service offering a bespoke launch solution, Skyrora aims to disrupt the current market dynamics which are dominated by major players like SpaceX.

Highlighting the company’s strategic focus on small launch vehicles, Volodymyr comments: "Our aim is to capture this niche ... and then grow further."

At the core of Skyrora's operations is its commitment to technological innovation. The company opts for a non-cryogenic oxidiser – high-density hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) – over traditional liquid oxygen, which facilitates simpler and more environmentally friendly launches. This choice not only aligns with the UK's geographic and infrastructural constraints, but it also demonstrates Skyrora's dedication to sustainability.

Underscoring the efficiency of Skyrora’s approach, Volodymyr remarks: "The simplicity of technology ... gives us the boost in speed … and there isn’t a massive amount of infrastructure required on the ground to launch."

Skyrora's place in the UK Space Industry

More than an aerospace company, Skyrora is a symbol of the UK's renewed focus on space capabilities.

Reflecting on the historical context of the company, Volodymyr said: "The UK was one of the first orbital nations [with the Black Arrow programme] ... It was unique, and way ahead of its time. It was a small launch vehicle and if we had the capabilities right now, it would be Skyrora"

The triumphs and challenges of being a space startup

Every startup faces challenges, but even more so in a sector as complex as aerospace.

For Skyrora, these challenges range from regulatory hurdles to the intricacies of orchestrating successful launches.

"Unlike in IT where, whilst there are lots of competitors, you can test/fail a product multiple times instantly. The main challenge here is that, though there are way less competitors in this industry, there is no way to test and fail multiple times. You need to go all in; you need to build the whole vehicle. Whilst you can test some components on the side, as a system you really only have just one attempt. So that’s the first challenge – how do you de-risk the approach."

By understanding the challenges, Skyrora's incremental development strategy, starting with smaller vehicles, has helped mitigate these risks.

However, despite these hurdles, Skyrora has also had its share of triumphs.

“It’s easy to get people excited about it. It’s easy to explain what we do ... Here everyone is interested, they want to see it, and they are supportive.”

Reflecting on the intense excitement and satisfaction derived from each successful launch, Volodymyr continues: "Watching a launch itself are the best seconds of my life."

Collaboration is key

Collaborations and partnerships are crucial in the aerospace industry, and Skyrora has built a robust network of partners, enhancing its capabilities and impact. The importance of strategic alliances in the growth of Skyrora is a strength Volodymyr highlights.

"We have a supply chain established, the supply chain is an important part of any business – especially rockets, which are about 10,000 components. Rockets have everything from microchips, different structures, wires, and 3D components. We rely a lot on 3D printing, for which we have trusted partners, as well as our own in-house capabilities with Skyprint 2, the largest hybrid 3D printer of its kind in Europe.”

“We explore the ways we can use the capabilities of our partners for our needs, and they use our capabilities for their needs."

Skyrora's place in the space race

Skyrora's story is not just about technological prowess or business acumen; it's about vision, courage, and the relentless pursuit of innovation, and Volodymyr's leadership and the team's dedication have positioned Skyrora at the helm of the UK's space ambitions.

As for what’s next, the company plans to expand its launch capacity significantly.

"Our final goal is to have up to 16 launches a year," Volodymyr reveals, pointing towards a bustling future for Skyrora.