Sutherland is a gender-neutral name of English origin, meaning "From The South Most Land." The name dates back to the Viking era and is associated with a historic county in the Highlands of Scotland. The area was ruled by the Jarl of Orkney, and despite its northernmost location on the island of Great Britain, it was called Suðrland ("southern land") from the standpoint of Orkney and Caithness. The county is known for its rural and sparsely populated landscape, which has been affected by the Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries. Sutherland is also recognized for its rugged mountains, high sea cliffs, and national scenic areas. The name Sutherland reflects the rich history and geography of the region, carrying a sense of strength and connection to the land.
The Sutherland spaceport, also known as Space Hub Sutherland or UK Vertical Launch (UKVL) Sutherland, is a planned spaceport located in Sutherland, Scotland. It is intended to be one of the first vertical launch capable spaceports in the United Kingdom, operated by a commercial entity, with the aim of supporting the Orbex Prime launch vehicle. The groundbreaking for the spaceport occurred on 5 May 2023. Although the project was put on hold in December 2024, the facility was expected to be operated by a commercial Launch Pad Operator, providing employment for some 40 people directly and supporting another 400 jobs indirectly. The spaceport, situated on the A' Mhòine peninsula northwest of Tongue village, offers a clear northern coast, enabling rockets to launch northward without interference from land areas under the flight path, making it suitable for placing small satellites into polar orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit. The proposed site is within the Melness Crofters Estate, with plans for a single launch pad and up to 12 launches per year. The Orbex Prime rocket, designed to use bio-propane for lower carbon impact, aims for re-usability for the booster stage and full mass recovery. The spaceport will occupy around 13 acres of leased land, including the Launch Operations Control Centre, the Launch Site Integration Facility, and the launchpad, with facilities for storage and management of launch vehicles and their payloads.
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