Skyrora has become the first British company to secure a license to launch a rocket from the United Kingdom.

The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted Scotland-based Skyrora a license for up to 16 launches a year from SaxaVord Spaceport, located on the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland.

It's the first time a vertical launch licence has been granted to a U.K.-based company. It allows Skyrora to launch its suborbital Skylark L rocket from SaxaVord, which has already received a safety license from the CAA. The move is also a step toward Skyrora launching its larger orbital rocket, the Skylark XL.

The licensing approval process considered factors such as safety, international obligations and environmental mitigations concerning Skyrora's planned launches, according to the

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