"In August 2025, Glasgow's Skyrora became the first British manufacturer licensed to conduct vertical launches from the United Kingdom. This licence will allow the company to launch its suborbital Skylark L rocket from the SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Islands, which previously received the necessary approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This marks a major milestone for the UK, which has finally gained sovereign launch capabilities."
"At the same time, it is a story of new partnerships for the Ukrainian aerospace sector, made possible thanks to the investment of Max Polyakov, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2017, Polyakov's financing and the technologies he brought to the table helped transform Firefly Space Systems, a nearly bankrupt startup, into the successful Firefly Aerospace, which develops rockets for NASA to deliver payloads to the Moon. In summer 2025, Firefly Aerospace also held its first public stock offering (IPO) on the high-tech NASDAQ exchange."
"Born in the city of Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, Max Polyakov has become known as an entrepreneur in space and IT technologies. He launched his first business, IT-Ukraine, in 2001, and three years later became co-founder of the IDE Group of companies. He is currently the founder of the Noosphere Ventures investment fund, the founder and co-owner of the space technology companies EOS Data Analytics and SETS, among others, and the co-founder of the non profit organisation Association Noosphere."
In August 2025 Glasgow's Skyrora received the first British licence for vertical launches, enabling suborbital Skylark L flights from SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Islands after CAA approvals. The licence establishes sovereign UK launch capability and advances domestic launch services. Investment from Ukrainian entrepreneur Max Polyakov linked Ukrainian aerospace technologies and financing to British efforts. Polyakov previously helped transform Firefly Space Systems into Firefly Aerospace, which supplies rockets to NASA and completed an IPO on NASDAQ in summer 2025. Polyakov leads Noosphere Ventures and co-founded EOS Data Analytics, SETS and the Association Noosphere, and has supported humanitarian and defence projects since Russia's invasion.
Read at Business Matters
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