Prime
A 19-meter, two-stage micro-launcher meant to carry up to 180 kg to orbit from northern Scotland. It never flew; the program ended when Orbex collapsed in 2026, and Omnidea plans a successor called PrimeNEO.
Why it matters
Prime was one of the UK's main hopes for a domestic orbital rocket. Its collapse left the UK's share of ESA's European Launcher Challenge unassigned and showed how hard it is to finance a small launcher to first flight.
How the technology works
Prime was a two-stage rocket sized for small satellites. Orbex planned to recover the first stage with a system called Reflight, an interstage that opens four petals and a parachute so the booster splashes down softly in the ocean for reuse.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction