Shetland

Former House Speaker-designate Bob Livingston has signed on to represent the Shetland Space Centre, which is part of the UK’s bid to grab a share of the European small satellite launch business.

Lockheed Martin plans to develop UK launch operations from the Shetland Space Center on the island of Unst.

The British government identified Unst as the best location for the launch of small vertical rockets transporting satellites into low earth orbits.

Its northern location also makes it ideal for tracking satellites already in orbit.

When fully operational in 2024, the launch facility is expected to support more than 600 jobs in Scotland.

The initial launch is slated for later this year.

The Livingston Group has a five-member team working on the Shetland Space Centre.