UK ‘spaceport’ gets approval
March 15, 2018
By Chris Forrester
The UK government is backing the building of a rocket launch site.
UK Transport Minister Jo Johnson says: “The Space Industry Bill gives companies the ability to launch satellites from UK soil, putting us at the forefront of the new space race, and helping us to compete as the destination of choice for satellite companies worldwide.”
The Bill will receive its formal Royal Assent on March 15th, although there is no specific location mentioned for the building of the launch site.
UK Space Agency boss Dr Graham Turnock added: “We will set out how we plan to accelerate the development of the first commercial launch services from the UK, and realise the full potential of this enabling legislation over the coming months.”
Scotland is the favoured location, with Glasgow’s Prestwick airport being one of the proposed sites, although Stornoway and Campbeltown are also mentioned as possible sites as is Newquay in the south-west of England.