UK commercial space flight is one giant leap closer to lift off
COMMERCIAL space flight from the UK is closer to blast off, after a three-month consultation on spaceport locations shut yesterday.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) updated a list of potential sites, after receiving responses from various parties on what would be Europe’s first commercial spaceport.
Campbeltown, Glasgow Prestwick and Stornoway in Scotland, Newquay in England and Llanbedr in Wales could house the base.
RAF Leuchars in Scotland is a potential temporary base, but RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks were ruled out due to their importance to defence.
Business secretary Vince Cable said: “Paving the way for a national spaceport is one of our biggest science achievements in this parliament.”
The Department for Transport will now develop a detailed technical specification for a spaceport.