The pioneering businessman, along with co-founders Scott Hammond and Debbie Strang, began putting together plans for a commercial spaceport in Unst in 2017.<\/p>\n
SaxaVord said he had an \u201cunorthodox style, with long hair and cowboy boots\u201d, but also possessed a \u201clegendary drive and determination\u201d to help the project succeed.<\/p>\n
Against \u201cseemingly impossible odds\u201d, he had pushed SaxaVord forward to become the UK\u2019s first fully licensed vertical launch spaceport.<\/p>\n
Hammond, who is now expected to take over as chief executive, said Strang\u2019s death was \u201can enormous blow both personally and professionally\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we first identified the prospects for a spaceport at Lamba Ness in Unst, Frank would not take no for an answer and broke through barriers that would have deterred lesser people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a real force of nature, and his vision and his grit got us to where we are today, bringing the Unst and Shetland communities, investors and government with us.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut our mission is not complete \u2013 my job now is to deliver not only the first launch but successive launches that establish the UK as Europe\u2019s leader in access to space.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth myself and the SaxaVord team feel a strong sense of responsibility to deliver that goal for Frank, and we will, I am in no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that making the UK the leader for Europe in vertical launch space flight would be \u201cFrank\u2019s legacy, for Shetland, for Scotland and the UK\u201d.<\/p>\n
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