Britain will soon be home to the first spaceport in Europe. The United Kingdom confirmed its support for the plan, announcing shortlisted locations earlier in the week. The government also published the results of a three-month consultation it carried out with interested parties, taking a step closer toward making commercial spaceflights in the state a reality.
In July 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority already had a number of locations where the future spaceport would be built in. The list was recently updated, narrowed down to Scotland's Campbeltown, Stornoway and Glasgow Prestwick, Wales' Llanbedr and England's Newquay. RAF Leuchar also made the list as a possible temporary facility. All are situated by the coast, allowing spaceplanes flight over water.
Kinloss Barracks and RAF Lossiemouth were previously included in the list for potential spaceport locations but were ruled out because the two airfields were necessary for defense purposes. Operators may still submit applications to have their facilities reconsidered as long as they fulfill the requirements set.
"I want Britain to lead the way in commercial spaceflight," said Robert Goodwill, aviation minister.
He added that the establishment of a spaceport will guarantee that Britain is at the forefront of the technology. It also marks support for the emerging industry, which will impact the economy by creating jobs.
For Vince Cable, business secretary, making way for the spaceport can be considered one of the biggest achievements in science the parliament has made, underscoring efforts in space innovation and the implementation of growth strategies to poise the UK as the world leader in the field. It also doesn't hurt that the spaceport is expected to contribute nearly $610 billion by 2030 to the global economy.
Determining how feasible a spaceport would be for the UK started in 2012 when the UK Space Agency and the Department for Transport requested the CAA to review operational regulations necessary for operating spaceplanes.
After announcing shortlisted locations, the next step for the UK government is to come up with detailed technical specifications for the spaceport through the DfT. These specifications should be released within the year, prompting the beginning of invitations for proposals.
Last year, the UK government started a space innovation and growth strategy, which included plans for 2014 to 2030. This strategy made it clear what economic advantages the UK stands to enjoy if it became the center for scientific research and commercial spaceflights in Europe.
