We’ll have lift-off... Sutherland peninsula chosen as site for UK’S first spaceport
A peninsula on Scotland’s north coast has been chosen for the site of the UK’S first spaceport.
Vertical rocket and satellite launches are planned from the A’mhoine peninsula in Sutherland, which the UK Space Agency said would pave the way for spaceflights.
The agency said the site, between Tongue and Durness, was chosen as it is the best place in the UK from which to reach highly sought-after satellite orbits with vertically launched rockets.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be given £2.5 million from the UK Government to develop the spaceport, which could be up and running by the early 2020s.
Sutherland beat competition from other sites previously shortlisted, including Prestwick in Ayrshire, Unst in Shetland and Newquay airport, Cornwall.
However, the Government also announced a new £2 million development fund for horizontal launch spaceports across the UK at sites such as Prestwick, Newquay and Snowdonia, subject to a successful business case.
The cash is aimed at boosting their sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane ambitions.
The space agency said the spaceflight market will be potentially worth £3.8 billion to the UK economy over the next decade.
Agency chief executive Graham Turnock said the spaceport grant would “help kickstart an exciting new era for the UK space industry”.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “As a nation of innovators and entrepreneurs, we want Britain to be the first place in mainland Europe to launch satellites as
part of our Industrial Strategy. The UK’S thriving space industry, research community and aerospace supply chain put the UK in a leading position to develop both vertical and horizontal launch sites.”
The consortium behind the Sutherland spaceport proposal includes US aerospace firm Lockheed Martin.
HIE chief executive Charlotte Wright said: “The decision to support the UK’S first spaceport in Sutherland is tremendous news for our region and for Scotland as a whole.
The international space sector is growing and we want to ensure the region is ready to reap the economic benefits that will be generated from this fantastic opportunity.”
However, Britain faces an “erosion” of investment in its space, security and defence sectors unless a good Brexit deal is struck with the EU, the head of an industry body warned yesterday.
Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS Group, said British manufacturers’ ability to attract investment will be
“diminished” if the negotiations fail. He said that securing a comprehensive deal with Brussels will be key to ensure investment continues to flow to UK firms operating in sectors such as space.
He was speaking as buyers from around the world prepare to attend Farnborough International Airshow. Around £90 billion of orders and commitments are placed at the show, with UK companies vying for their share.