An astronaut touched down in Forres this week to visit a locally-based spaceflight company.
Tim Peake toured Orbex on Wednesday, September 3 - ahead of the company's first orbital launch next year.
He said: "Orbex is developing cutting-edge technology and building the skills and capability that will help the UK become a major player in global spaceflight.
"Meeting the team behind it all has given me a real sense of the momentum building here, and it's fantastic to see Scotland at the forefront of this new era of launch."
Mr Peake dropped in on the orbital launch services provider at Forres Enterprise Park to see its Prime rocket and meet the engineers behind the micro launch vehicle.
He also took part in a Q&A session with Orbex's rocket scientists, sharing insights from his own time in space.
The behind-the-scenes tour was a short detour from Peake's nationwide tour 'Astronauts: The Quest to Explore Space'.
Orbex CEO, Phil Chambers, said it was an honour to host the retiree who in 2016, while on a mission to the International Space Station, became the first official British astronaut to walk in space.
Mr Chambers added: "We shared the progress we're making with Prime, which is set to be one of the world's most environmentally sustainable orbital rockets.
"Tim has inspired a generation to look to space, and welcoming him to Orbex as we enter this new era of sustainable spaceflight is something our team will remember for years to come."
The visit follows Orbex's recent pre-selection for the European Launcher Challenge; a flagship EU programme to accelerate independent launch capacity in Europe.
The company's initial launches will take place from SaxaVord Spaceport near Haroldswick on the northmost point of the Shetland Isles, where Orbex has a dedicated launch complex and the ability to launch 10 flights per year.
For more information visit https://www.orbex.space/