MachLab Rocket Test Facility
Joint project of Discover Space UK and the Machrihanish Airbase Community CompanyFormer RAF Machrahanish airbase, near Campbeltown
University of Glasgow identifies MachLab as a rocket test facility. Its July 2025 news release says researchers from academia and industry will be able to fire experimental rocket designs and gather performance data using MachLab’s custom-built test stand. The current facilities page says MachLab is currently outfitted with the University’s 2 kN test stand.
Reviewed by Arc · About this review
Key facts
- Published facility identity and location
- University of Glasgow identifies MachLab as a rocket test facility; its July 2025 release says it opened at a business park on the site of the former RAF Machrahanish airbase near Campbeltown.
- Published project partners
- The University of Glasgow describes MachLab as a joint project of Discover Space UK and the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company, developed with support from the University of Glasgow.
- Current published test stand
- The current University of Glasgow facilities page says MachLab is currently outfitted with the University’s 2 kN test stand.
Testing capabilities
Experimental rocket testing and performance data
University of Glasgow’s July 2025 release says researchers from academia and industry will be able to fire experimental rocket designs and gather data on their performance using MachLab’s custom-built test stand.
Equipment and published limits
| Specification | Published value | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Current published test stand | University of Glasgow 2 kN test stand | The current University of Glasgow facilities page says MachLab is currently outfitted with this test stand. It does not state a maximum thrust capacity, a guaranteed test condition or public availability for a particular programme. |
Access and contact
Facility contact
- Address
- Former RAF Machrahanish airbase, near Campbeltown
- Website
- Official test house website
Standards and accreditation
Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.
What to confirm with the facility
- The current University of Glasgow facilities page says MachLab is being upgraded for larger tests and cryogenic propellants. It does not say that those upgrades are complete or currently available.
Before requesting a test
Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.
Frequently asked questions
Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.
Related testing facilities
Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.
Further reading
Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.
Sources and review
Arc reviewed the linked University of Glasgow facilities page and July 2025 news release on 30 September 2026 by direct HTTP retrieval. This is a review of published information, not a facility inspection, test witnessing or confirmation of availability. The facilities page is retained as the authoritative public information route; it does not publish a current facility-specific contact or booking route.
Arc publishes this directory entry and does not operate the test facility. Suggest a correction to Arc with a supporting source.
Facilities | University of Glasgow Space and Exploration Technology
University of Glasgow’s current facilities page is retained as the authoritative public information page for MachLab. It supports the rocket-test-facility identity, project-partner wording and current 2 kN test-stand statement. It does not publish a current facility-specific contact or booking route, availability, capacity, commercial terms, item acceptance, standards scope or a completed larger-test or cryogenic-propellant upgrade.
New rocket test facility will support UK space sector’s stellar ambitions
University of Glasgow’s 23 July 2025 release is used for the published former-RAF-Machrihanish location, experimental-rocket-testing description and UK launch context. It does not establish a current booking or contact route, availability, capacity, commercial terms or acceptance of a particular programme.