Site is chosen for UK’s rocket base
Scotland has been chosen as the site for the UK’s first space port.
The prospect of adventurous Brits checking in for out-of-this-world trips will take a step closer with the Business Secretary Greg Clark announcing that Sutherland has been picked for the project.
The site will initially host rocket and satellite launches but commercial passenger travel could then follow.
Clark will say during a speech at this week ’ s Farnborough Air Show that this marks the start of a“new British Space Age”.
He will add that the spaceflight market could be worth £ 4billion to the UK economy over the next 10 years.
Sutherland beat competition from Prestwick in Ayrshire, Unst in the Shetlands and Newquay airport, Cornwall.
The space port will provide the infrastructure needed for space tourism, though a regulatory framework for passenger trips has yet to be created.
The space industry Bill cleared its House of Commons stages in March, paving the way for the space port. Transport Minister Jo Johnson said: “This put s us at the foref ront of the new space race.
“It helps us to compete as the destination of choice for satel l ite companies worldwide.”
Nearly a fifth of the UK’s space industry are based in Scotland and Glasgow bui lds more satel l ites than any other city in Europe.
A consortium submitted a proposal for Sutherland to the UK Space Agency, say ing the A’Mhoine peninsular was ideal for launching satellites into orbit.
They expect to be able to collar business from the military, Government and private sectors.
SNP MP Dr Phi lippa Whitford said: “Launches are currently carried out from Kazakhstan.
“Easy launch access from Scotland would benefit the commercial satellite industry right across the UK.”
The move is backed by the specialist technical staff union Prospect and GMB and Unite.
And Clark hopes Britain’s share of the global space economy will increase from 6.5 per cent now to 10 per cent by 2030.