About Saxavord
Our people and our values
We believe space should be accessible to everyone, and that starts by making its opportunities real and reachable for young people, no matter where they live.
Whether you’re five or 25, our goal is to spark curiosity and support the journey into a space-enabled future. We’re here to help build a skilled, confident and diverse workforce ready to take on tomorrow’s challenges.
The Fredo Mission Centre
At the heart of our education work is the Fredo Mission Centre — a new digital hub connecting students, teachers and families with space learning in a way that’s engaging, practical and inspiring.
The focus of this project is the real-life jobs and careers that exist at SaxaVord Spaceport and our first series of ‘Fredo’s SaxaVord Adventures’ features many of our staff explaining what their job is and some of the work they get up to each day.
FredoMissionCentre.com brings together everything we offer — including interactive content, educational videos and lesson plans. It’s designed to grow alongside the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers and we aim to increase the amount of content hosted on this platform.
Our values tell the world who we are and what we stand for; they underpin why we exist as a business.
They are at the heart of everything we do each and every day.
WE ARE:
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED
We think ‘safety first in all of our actions’. It’s our number one priority and it governs our actions and processes. There is only one Earth and we focus on protecting it.
INTEGRITY DRIVEN
If we say we will do it, you can rely on us. If we say we can do it, we will make it happen.
COLLABORATIVE
We are a team, and we know that without our team members working collaboratively
and with our customers and our stakeholders, there is no journey.
DYNAMIC
We are proud to be part of ‘New Space’ which is characterised by energy, agility and dynamism. We are honoured to be part of this evolution.
RESILIENT
From the inception of our desire to create our business we have needed to be resilient in order to succeed. It’s part of our DNA. We will find a way.
INCLUSIVE
Based in Shetland but serving the world, we are an international company. We believe in the power and value of diversity.
Scott Hammond
CEO and co-founder
Scott is a former RAF Tornado pilot, staff officer and flight commander who played a critical role in the technical set up of the SaxaVord Spaceport site, including trajectory analysis, rocked evaluation and operating procedures as well as leading the planning, design and build of the ground infrastructure to meet market needs.
Debbie Strang
COO and co-founder
Debbie trained as an RAF supply and logistics officer and was operations officer at RAF Lossiemouth before joining the Cairngorm National Park Authority as tourism and economic development manager. She leads the strategic development of the company and oversees SaxaZero, education, visitor management and tourism opportunities.
Frank Strang
First CEO and co-founder
Frank’s vision, entrepreneurial drive and formation of the team led to the creation of the original Shetland Space Centre in 2017, now SaxaVord Spaceport, in the face of seemingly implacable odds. He left all of it – the Spaceport, the team and the will to succeed – as his legacy after being taken from us far too young in August 2025 by cancer.
Mairi Prior
Finance Director
Fiona Thompson
Company Secretary
Robin Huber
Business Development Manager
State-of-the-art facilities
Currently, the site has one operational launch complex, consisting of a launch stool, pad and Integration hangar, where rockets and satellites are integrated. The stool and pad are occupied exclusively by Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA).
A bespoke rocket tracking, telemetry and flight termination system has also been installed on the site.
Two more complexes are under construction, as well as a Mission Management Control Centre to monitor launches.
SaxaVord also provides bespoke facilities for component testing, development and storage.
There is also office space, high-quality accommodation and catering for those close to the launch site.
Once built, the spaceport will support up to 30 launches a year.
The latest news from Launch control
Viewing spaces for SaxaVord test launches to be offered to local people first
Local residents will have first call on viewing spaces for test flights and launches from SaxaVord Spaceport, it was announced today. Due to licensing conditions imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which rightly place health and safety above all other...
SaxaVord strengthens operations with two new senior appointments
SaxaVord Spaceport has bolstered its growing team with two new senior appointments in operations as it prepares for first launch. Ian Palmer has joined as Director of Operations and Nadine Armiger-Drake as Spaceport Operations Manager. Both bring a wealth of skills,...
SaxaVord deputy CEO appointed as new boss
Scott Hammond is the new chief executive of SaxaVord Spaceport, the company announced today following the death of his friend and co-founder Frank Strang. Until now deputy CEO, Scott will take over the running of the company as it prepares to host a first test flight...