From the Edge of Wales to the Edge of Space: Llanbedr’s Spaceport Opens
The launch of a low-orbit satellite using a balloon at the formal opening of the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre near Llandebr in north Wales.
There’s something surreal about watching a large balloon rise into a glorious sky on the edge of Eryri, with the Irish Sea glittering beyond and a flight range that stretches to the horizon. But at the formal opening of the Snowdonia Space Centre in Llanbedr, it all felt absolutely real.
We were there representing Industry Wales, proudly standing alongside our colleagues from Space Wales and the Aerospace Wales Forum to celebrate a landmark moment for Welsh innovation — and for the UK space sector.
Liftoff in Llanbedr
The grand opening, which included the launch of a high-altitude balloon and a vertical rocket demo, marked the next chapter for a site long known for its aviation legacy. This new spaceport — a joint venture between Snowdonia Aerospace Centre and Newton Launch Systems — has been backed by £1.3 million in investment, including £820,000 from the UK Space Agency.
The rocket may have been small, but the ambition couldn’t have been bigger.
“We Aspire to More”
Jeremy Howitt, Technical Director at Snowdonia Space Centre, addressed the crowd with a blend of pride and determination:
“Ten years ago, Llanbedr was identified as a potential site for a horizontal launch spaceport, which remains something we aspire to. The heritage here is in testing, training, and technology development. We are the only commercially owned and operated test facility with its own, permanent special-use airspace.”
He added that despite Llanbedr’s rural setting, its geography made it the closest spaceflight centre to over half the UK population — a powerful asset when building an ecosystem of universities, SMEs and research institutes.
Facilities With a Future
What’s already in place is impressive:
Two launch rails, including a 12m rail capable of launches over Cardigan Bay
A rocket engine test stand supporting bi-propellant and hybrid rocket trials
A space lab with a thermal vacuum chamber, 10g centrifuge, vibration table and structural test frame
A flexible workshop and testing space for proof-of-concept projects and academic collaboration
As James Coleman, Finance Director at Newton Launch Systems, explained:
“We keep these facilities as flexible as possible so they can be rearranged to individual client needs with specialism for space-capable testing.”
Mock up of a future Mars rover vehicle on display at Snowdonia Aerospace Centre for the formal opening of the facility.
Investing in People and Place
For Welsh Government, this wasn’t just a tech milestone — it was a strategic investment.
Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said:
“This is a landmark moment not only for the local community – bringing new opportunities, skills, and investment to the region – but also for the wider UK space sector. Facilities like this will play a crucial role in delivering our National Space Strategy for Wales.”
The site’s educational and training ambitions are front and centre, with future plans including residential courses, hands-on aerospace engineering programmes, and a Space Discovery Centre to attract schools and tourists.
Dr Rosie Cane from Space Wales addresses attendees at the formal opening of the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre near Llanbedr in north Wales.
Local Growth, Global Reach
Despite the applause, some local voices were candid about expectations and wanted assurances the facility will benefit the local economy and communities.
Jeremy Howitt didn’t shy away from the challenge. In his address, he projected the space centre would create over 100 specialised jobs and generate £20 million in annual value to the local economy within the next 5–10 years.
Looking Up
As we left the site, the skies were still buzzing — not with aircraft, but with ideas. The vision of Snowdonia Space Centre is clear: create early, affordable access to the space industry, while seeding long-term economic and educational benefits in Wales.
It’s not often you get to witness the start of something like this — part science, part infrastructure, part inspiration. For us, being there wasn’t just about attending a ribbon-cutting. It was about seeing the future of Welsh aerospace launch from the edge of a runway.
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