Scottish Rocket Startup Shifts All Production to Pandemic Supplies
Private space launch company Skyrora pauses its rocket development to manufacture hand sanitizer and 3D-printed face masks for UK healthcare workers.
Scottish space launch startup Skyrora redirects its entire UK-based manufacturing capacity toward the COVID-19 response. The Edinburgh company answers the call from the UK government and the NHS by dedicating all human resources and working capital to producing critical healthcare equipment for frontline responders.
Skyrora focuses first on building hand sanitizer using WHO guidelines and aims to scale production to over 10,000 bottles per week. The startup notes a historical connection between rocketry and sanitizer since early rocket fuels used ethanol, which serves as the key disinfecting ingredient in hand hygiene products.
In addition to sanitizer production, Skyrora is currently in talks with the Scottish Government about supplying 3D-printed protective face masks. The company is testing initial prototypes now and plans to mass produce the protective equipment once those tests verify the safety and quality of the output.