The government has committed £2m to support plans for small satellite launch and suborbital flight from a UK spaceplane-oriented spaceport.
The Launch UK development fund will allow prospective sites for spaceplane launch to apply for a share of a £2m fund, science minister Chris Skidmore announced yesterday. Several sites are already working on plans for horizontal spaceplane launch, capitalising on the development of the SABRE engine by Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines, and the proposed Skylon single-stage-to-orbit aircraft the engine would power. Sites include Newquay in Cornwall, Campbelltown and Glasgow Prestwick in Scotland, and Snowdonia in Wales.
The UK Space Agency has opened the fund, which is aimed to enable research into the market opportunities offered by horizontal space flight technologies. Organisations receiving the grant can use such research to develop an individual business case for offering horizontal launch services from the UK in the early 2020s.
“This new fund will help develop ambitious proposals to enable spaceplanes and aircraft capable of deploying satellites to operate from future UK spaceports, as part of the government’s modern industrial Strategy,” Skidmore said.
The fund is dwarfed by a £50m grant announced last July to fund the development of a vertical-launch spaceport in Scotland. However, the Launch UK fund is envisaged as helping to grow the market for small satellite launch and suborbital flight, the latter of which could be for space tourism or hypersonic long-distance travel. Individual applicants will be able to apply for a maximum share of £500,000.
“The UK Space Agency is helping prospective spaceports seize the commercial opportunities offered by the increasing demands for launch. We are working closely with the industry to ensure the UK becomes a global leader in providing access to space for small satellites and sub orbital vehicles,” commented Claire Barcham, director of commercial spaceflight at the UKSA.
Applicants can view the call for proposals here
Whereas I applaud the continued support of this great British project of Skylon and Reaction Engines and the vertical launch pad in Scotland I don’t think it’s wise to fund a horizontal launch site in far flung places like the two sites in Scotland or Newquay. Even the Snowdonia site seems a little far stretched to me, will this be in the national park?
Horizontal launch craft do not require the vast clear areas of land around them for the rocket exhaust spread, they will be using engines with similar requirements to normal commercial aircraft so can be sited close to human population.
If we’re to be a world leader in launching cost effective satellites into low earth orbit surely to keep the costs and lead times low the launch site should have very good access and not be too far from where the planes themselves and the satellites are built.
I know having a facility of this type brings employment to the area and this also has to be a consideration but I would have thought and area somewhere near Bristol would be ideal. Perhaps extend the existing airport to share facilities bringing the costs down even further?
The proposed sites appear to be in the Celtic fringe!
I do think the project will be successful. Thats the way forward
Interesting to see that horizontal launches are being considered, though it appears, from the commentary, that only jet aeroplane type launches are being considered.
This is somewhat disappointing as I would have thought electromagnetic launch would have some advantages (reduced complexity and weight) as well as being a first cheap step (and logical – because much easier) for the development of carrier launchers, that are being developed. And, too, such a launch would be beneficial for the aircraft as, as everyone knows, lift-off is the most stressful event for the engines and possibly air-frame. (The record speed for MagLev is 361 mph over 11 miles – though, of course, only half that is required if one does not want to stop….) – perhaps this would be a good way of getting a high speed train – and possibly more useful than HS2?
Looks like the UK version of the old cargo cults. There are no such vehicles. Bit of regional loot to areas not normally noted as government supporting – snowdonia notably short of flat areas for airport type development! Could be a route to loss making conversion of RAF Valley, or
Aberporth site, like Newquay, ex raf st mawgan, airport. A decent rail service would be much more use, but not as sexy.