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Campbeltown, Prestwick & Stornoway shortlisted for UK spaceport

March 3 2015

Campbeltown, Prestwick & Stornoway shortlisted for UK spaceport
The Civil Aviation Authority has shortlisted Campbeltown, Prestwick and Stornoway airports to host the UK’s first spaceport, after narrowing down the field of possible locations to five in a consultation overseen by Foster + Partners, Mott MacDonald and Exploration Architecture Corporation.

They will go head to head with Newquay and Llanbedr to land the high profile space base with RAF Leuchars serving as a potential temporary facility.

Aviation minister Robert Goodwill said: “I want Britain to lead the way in commercial spaceflight. Establishing a spaceport will ensure we are at the forefront of this exciting new technology.

“Today’s consultation response marks another step forward in our work to support this emerging industry, which will create jobs and drive economic growth.”

Business secretary Vince Cable added: “Paving the way for a national spaceport is one of our biggest science achievements in this parliament. It greatly underscores the work of our space innovation and growth strategy to position the UK as a world-leader in this exciting arena that is expected to be worth up to £400 billion a year to the global economy by 2030.

“Launching satellites and operating commercial space flights from our shores was once only confined to the depths of science fiction, but with the results of this consultation we are one step closer to making this a very real ability in the near future.”

The department for transport will now develop technical specifications for the spaceport before inviting proposals which will be published later this year. The rocket plane launch site could then be operational by 2018.
The futuristic spaceport will be located on the coast to minimise disruption on land
The futuristic spaceport will be located on the coast to minimise disruption on land

6 Comments

David
#1 Posted by David on 3 Mar 2015 at 14:11 PM
Thunderbirds are go!

Can't really take this article seriously with images like this.
Stephen
#2 Posted by Stephen on 4 Mar 2015 at 13:57 PM
Is this the sort of industry we want to invest in? It's not about research and science, not really. It's a big joy ride. An unnecessary funfair with a MASSIVE carbon footprint. If you look beyond the glamour and excitement I'm not convinced it's a long term positive for the/any country. On the other hand, there are jobs to be had and (selfishly) I'd love to go into space... Not sure how I feel.
PS. Those renders are hilarious. Not in a good way.
Cateran
#3 Posted by Cateran on 6 Mar 2015 at 11:26 AM
Campbeltown for me. Has all the facilities, the length of runway, room to expand - and the American visitors.
Lyn
#4 Posted by Lyn on 13 Mar 2015 at 10:35 AM
Heroes in a half shell!
M is for Mungo
#5 Posted by M is for Mungo on 13 Mar 2015 at 13:10 PM
I once saw someone build one of these on Blue Peter
Taffanaut
#6 Posted by Taffanaut on 3 Apr 2015 at 22:51 PM
There is an ex RAF site with infrastructure and a 2200m main runway in an isolated westerly location but still within reach of a large proportion of UK aerospace industry.

http://taffanaut.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/13-cape-cymru.html

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