Founder of Saxavord spaceport diagnosed with terminal cancer

Proposed spaceports surrounding Norwegian Sea
Frank Strange, the founder and CEO of the Saxavord spaceport in the Shetland Islands, yesterday revealed that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is given about six months to two years to live.
He said he was hopeful to be present for what could be the first orbital rocket launch from UK soil now expected to happen in November of this year.
Speaking to Shetland News on Thursday, the 67-year-old said the future of the spaceport was in good hands with a highly capable management team and very supportive investors.
Reflecting on his health, Strang said he had been struggling eating over past months. An endoscopy a few weeks ago discovered a tumour in his oesophagus (gullet) which was found to be cancerous and had also spread to the lungs. “I am going to step back but not down,” he said. “If I step down that would probably kill me before the cancer does.
“The spaceport has been my life; it has come at a high personal cost over the years.”
It would truly be a tragedy if this man dies before the first launch at Saxavord occurs. The German rocket startup Rocket Factory Augsburg had hoped to do a launch there last year, but an explosion during a prelaunch static fire test made that impossible. It hopes to try again in December, assuming the United Kingdom’s odious red tape does not get in the way.
Proposed spaceports surrounding Norwegian Sea
Frank Strange, the founder and CEO of the Saxavord spaceport in the Shetland Islands, yesterday revealed that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is given about six months to two years to live.
He said he was hopeful to be present for what could be the first orbital rocket launch from UK soil now expected to happen in November of this year.
Speaking to Shetland News on Thursday, the 67-year-old said the future of the spaceport was in good hands with a highly capable management team and very supportive investors.
Reflecting on his health, Strang said he had been struggling eating over past months. An endoscopy a few weeks ago discovered a tumour in his oesophagus (gullet) which was found to be cancerous and had also spread to the lungs. “I am going to step back but not down,” he said. “If I step down that would probably kill me before the cancer does.
“The spaceport has been my life; it has come at a high personal cost over the years.”
It would truly be a tragedy if this man dies before the first launch at Saxavord occurs. The German rocket startup Rocket Factory Augsburg had hoped to do a launch there last year, but an explosion during a prelaunch static fire test made that impossible. It hopes to try again in December, assuming the United Kingdom’s odious red tape does not get in the way.