UK spaceport shortlist unveiled
Britain has moved closer to ratifying its spaceport ambitions with eight locations identified as suitable for commercial spaceflights.
Speaking yesterday, July 15 at Farnborough Air Show’s Space Day, aviation minister Robert Goodwill and chief executive of the UK Space Agency Dr David Parker revealed findings of a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) report highlighting airfields that could host a spaceport and the economic opportunities they could bring with them.
The government wants an operation spaceport in Britain by 2018 that would provide a focus for regional and international investment for growth and establish the UK as a leader in the space market.
In a statement, business secretary Vince Cable said: ‘Space…already contributes £11.3bn to the economy each year, supporting nearly 35,000 jobs. That’s why it’s important for us to prepare the UK for new launcher technology and take steps towards meeting our ambition of establishing the first British spaceport by 2018.
‘Exploring the opportunities that commercial spaceflight presents, and potentially making strategic investments in this area, will support the growth of this thriving industry and underpin the economy of tomorrow, making the UK the place for space.’
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