2020 vision eyed up for north coast satellite site

8

IAIN SMITH

UKSA satellite launch programmed, the outcome of which will be known this summer.

“This follows more than two years of dialogue with the relevant Scottish agencies.”

This week, MPs will debate the Space Industry Bill, which could grant new powers to license a wide range of spaceflight activities, including vertically-launched rockets, space planes, satellite operation, spaceports and other technologies.

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson previously said: “The Space Industry Bill will ensure the UK remains a leading player in the commercial space age by enabling small satellite launch from UK space ports.

“The measures in the bill will help make the UK the most attractive place in Europe for commercial launch and enable UK businesses to capture a growing share of this emerging global market.”

Commercial space flight in Britain has slowly been developing over the last few years, though the Government had previously set a target of 2018 to have a port up and running.

A’Mhoine may well provide a boost to the industry, but several other sites, including Prestwick, Stornoway and Machrihanish, may still become space tourism hubs in the near future.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scotland has a proud history in the design and building of satellites and will consider all opportunities to expand this further.”

Helen McDade, head of policy at the John Muir Trust, the conservation charity, raised some concerns about the impact of a spaceport at A’Mhoine.

She said the area around the proposed facility had been designated as a national scenic area and noted for rare species such as greenshank and golden eagles. SOCIETY’S expectations and the battle to be ourselves in the face of pressure are themes explored in a monochrome work chosen as the best of the month in the John Byrne Awards.

Erin Smit’s intriguing piece entitled Look Away depicts the serene androgynous features of a young adult, face turned, eyes closed, with unexpected tiny features that force the viewer to