Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This is deeply disappointing news and the loss of highly skilled jobs in Moray will be felt acutely across the local community, the wider economy and Scotland’s growing space sector.”
She said she has been working closely with the UK government in the hope of finding a solution but clarity is needed to be able to protect the Scottish launch sector.
“Scotland has established itself as a leading space nation in Europe, with a strong cluster of advanced manufacturing, launch capability and satellite innovation,” Forbes added.
“We remain fully committed to supporting Scotland’s space sector and ensuring the talent, expertise and infrastructure built here continue to thrive.”
A UK government spokesperson said: “We recognise this will be a very worrying time for staff at Orbex.
“Space launch is a highly competitive sector, and it has always been the case that some companies will succeed, while others will fail.
“We will be setting out more details about our plans for developing key national space capabilities, including launch, in due course. Any decisions will be focused on ensuring maximum impact for taxpayers’ money.”