Arrival of British spaceport is one step closer

The British government has completed a consultation round for the arrival of a spaceport and claims that there is broad support for the plan. The number of possible locations has been reduced from eight to six.

Last summer, the British government started a consultation round about the arrival of a spaceport and the outcome has been published. The people involved, from airports to space organizations, support the plans, which clear the way for realisation, claims the government. The Department for Transport plans to have an airport for commercial space travel ready by 2018.

The UK Aviation Authority has reduced the number of possible locations to six: Campbeltown, RAF Leuchars, Glasgow Prestwick and Stornoway in Scotland, Newquay in England and Llanbedr in Wales. RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks airfields have been dropped. The spaceport is to enable satellite launches and commercial space flights such as Virgin Galactic’s from British territory.