SaxaVord Spotlight: Get to know Russ Webster
What is your job title?
Range Safety Manager
What does your job title mean?
I try to keep everyone - including their houses, farms and animals - as safe as possible by getting my team to watch cameras and screens on lots of computers to make sure the rockets are doing what they are supposed to be doing. If it looks like there is going to be a problem, I am in charge of pressing the button that can destroy the rocket before anyone gets hurt.
What job did you think you'd be doing when you finished school?
I worked on a farm in Yorkshire and I always wanted to join the Army. I never thought the skills and things I learnt in the Army would make me ideal for a Space job.
Fun Questions
Fun Questions
What is your favourite space book, film or song?
Interstellar
My Grandad
Who is your biggest inspiration?
What does a day in your life look like?
What is your favourite thing about SaxaVord?
What 3 words would you use to describe saxavord?
I have two types of days: normal days and launch days. Normal days are spent in the office getting people and equipment ready for launches.
Launch days start very early, sometimes in the dark, especially in winter in Shetland. We carry out lots of safety checks with the rocket teams and my own team to make sure the air, sea and land around north Unst are safe for everyone. We also closely monitor the weather, especially the wind, and launch weather balloons beforehand.
Once everything is ready, it needs to be very quiet in Range Control so we can stay focused on keeping everyone safe.
The people here are awesome. We all share a dream to help Unst, Scotland and the UK become great at space, and everyone plays an important part. From rocket experts to catering and cleaning teams, teamwork is what makes it work.
Friendly. Helpful. Willing.
If you were going to space what 3 things would you take?
Toothbrush. Wet wipes. Phone (for gaming).
Build Your Way to Space: Fredo’s Top LEGO® Picks for Unstronauts
Wondering what to do with all the pennies you got for Christmas?
Well, strap on your helmet because the Fredo Team have some amazing ideas for you!
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If you’re a wannabe rocket engineer, space designer, or just an enthusiastic Unstronaut, space-themed LEGO® builds are a brilliant way to learn, imagine, and build your way to the stars.
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Here are our favourite space LEGO® sets you can get right now - approved by Fredo himself.
Space Exploration Telescope (LEGO® Creator)
This is not a real set - image created by ChatGPT
Fredo has a telescope in his bedroom and one in his space den — but how about building your own LEGO® telescope that comes with its very own solar system model?
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This clever Creator set is packed with possibilities:
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Build a space telescope
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Rebuild it into a microscope
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Or… turn it into an alien spaceship
With 278 pieces, this set is perfect for Unstronauts who love to rebuild, redesign, and imagine new missions every day.
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👉 https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/space-exploration-telescope-31378
Image Credit: LEGO®
Space Astronaut (LEGO® Creator)
Every Unstronaut needs a space hero - and this one is built brick by brick!
The Space Astronaut set lets you create a classic astronaut ready for adventure beyond Earth. But, just like real space missions, things can change…
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This is a 3-in-1 Creator set, so you can rebuild your astronaut into different space-themed models and invent brand-new missions each time.
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Perfect for:
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Space storytelling
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Imaginative play
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Practising your Unstronaut pose (hands on hips optional)
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👉 https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/space-astronaut-31152
Image Credit: LEGO®
Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit (LEGO® Technic)
Want to know how the Earth and Moon really move in space?
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This LEGO® Technic set is a brilliant way to see how orbits work. Turn the crank and watch:
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The Earth spin on its axis
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The Moon orbit the Earth
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Day, night, and lunar phases come to life
This one’s perfect for Unstronauts who love:
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Science
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Mechanics
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Asking big questions about space
👉 https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/planet-earth-and-moon-in-orbit-42179
Image Credit: LEGO®
EVE & WALL•E (LEGO®)
Space isn’t just about rockets - it’s also about looking after our planet.
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This adorable LEGO® set features EVE and WALL•E, two of Fredo’s favourite space robots. They remind us that space exploration can help us understand Earth better and protect it for the future.
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A brilliant choice for:
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Fans of space stories
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Robot lovers
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Unstronauts who believe in Space for Good
NASA Mars Rover Perseverance (LEGO® Technic)
Image Credit: LEGO®
Image Credit: LEGO®
This one’s for serious Mars explorers.
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The Perseverance Rover is based on the real robot exploring Mars right now - and this LEGO® Technic version is packed with amazing details, including:
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Working steering
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A movable arm
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Realistic design inspired by NASA’s mission
If you’ve ever dreamed of driving across the red planet, this set is an absolute must.
👉 https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/nasa-mars-rover-perseverance-42158
LEGO® Education Science Sets: Train Like a Real Scientist!
Want to feel like a real space scientist or engineer?
LEGO® Education Science Sets are designed to help young Unstronauts learn through hands-on experiments, problem-solving, and teamwork.
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Take the Moon Mission Science Kit as an example - it lets you:
Explore lunar missions
Learn how astronauts work on the Moon
Test ideas just like real space engineers
These sets are brilliant for schools, clubs, home learning missions and curious minds who love asking “Why?”
They’re not just toys - they’re training kits for future Unstronauts!
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👉 https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/moon-mission-science-kit-45200
Image Credit: LEGO®
Written by The Fredo Team
Fredo Explains
Fredo Explains
In the first episode of Fredo Explains!, Fredo the Unstronaut explores what makes a spaceport so special. From launchpads to control rooms, Fredo shows how SaxaVord Spaceport helps rockets blast off into space—and how it supports missions that do good for our planet. It’s like an airport, but for rockets! Get ready to learn, laugh, and launch with Fredo in this fun intro to the world of spaceports!