What will it take to bring orbital launch back to the UK?

In this interview, Harriet sits down with Eddie Brown, co-founder and CEO of Astron Systems, to discuss the future of the British space industry, fully reusable rockets, small satellite launch, defense applications, climate monitoring, and why the UK could become a major player in orbital launch again.

Astron Systems is building the first 100% reusable small launch vehicle in its class, designed to deliver small payloads to orbit – and back again – more affordably, flexibly, and sustainably than current launch systems.

Eddie explains how reusable rockets work, why full reusability matters, how Astron emerged from Imperial College London, and what it takes to turn advanced rocket engineering into a commercially viable space company. This is a deep dive into one of the most ambitious aerospace companies being built in Britain today.

Topics covered:

• Astron Systems and its reusable rocket vision

• UK launch capability and SaxaVord Spaceport

• Defense, responsive launch, and space as critical infrastructure

• Climate monitoring, Earth observation, and sustainability in space

• Why the UK still can build big things

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Check out Astron Systems:

https://astronsystems.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/astron-systems/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-brown-943417194/

More on Basis:

https://www.buildbasis.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@BasisCapital

https://www.linkedin.com/company/basiscapitalltd/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrietsgreen

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