FighterJock

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Here’s a BBC link reporting the news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-44838787
 
Why not using some places closer to the equator? I guess it would be the most northernly launch site in the world.
 
Press Release;

Sutherland could be a new site for vertically-launched space rockets and satellites as the Government makes £2 million available to fund further horizontal launch spaceport sites across Britain – including Newquay, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia – subject to business case.

The Sutherland spaceport, which could see lift-off from the early 2020s and create hundreds of new jobs, is one of a number of Government-backed space projects that will be announced at the Farnborough International Airshow.

The commercial space sector is estimated to be worth a potential £3.8 billion to the UK economy over the next decade and will support Britain’s modern Industrial Strategy by creating high-skilled jobs and boosting local economies.

UK Space Agency selected the Sutherland site because Scotland is the best place in the UK to reach highly sought-after satellite orbits with vertically launched rockets.

Initial funding of £2.5 million will go to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to develop the launch site in Sutherland, which will use innovative rocket technology to ensure Britain is a leading force in the global spaceflight market.

Horizontal launch sites have potential to play a key role in the UK’s future spaceflight market, attracting companies from all over the world to invest in Britain for the launch of their sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane ambitions.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “As a nation of innovators and entrepreneurs, we want Britain to be the first place in mainland Europe to launch satellites as part of our modern Industrial Strategy. The UK’s thriving space industry, research community and aerospace supply chain put the UK in a leading position to develop both vertical and horizontal launch sites.

“This will build on our global reputation for manufacturing small satellites and help the whole country capitalise on the huge potential of the commercial space age.”

Charlotte Wright, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said: “The decision to support the UK’s first spaceport in Sutherland is tremendous news for our region and for Scotland as a whole. The international space sector is growing and we want to ensure the region is ready to reap the economic benefits that will be generated from this fantastic opportunity.”

Will Whitehorn, Non-Executive Chairman of Clyde Space said: “From designing and building the very first satellite in Scotland, Clyde Space has grown and become a front runner in small-satellite manufacturing. Having a spaceport located in Scotland will bring about a whole host of commercial advantages and not only to our operations in Glasgow, but to the entire space sector in the whole of the UK.”

Peter Platzer, CEO of Spire Global, said: “A spaceport in Scotland and the UK is fantastic news! Launch continues to be the most unpredictable part of the overall supply chain, with delays, often for months and sometimes years, being the norm. In Spire, Scotland already sports Europe’s most advanced and prolific satellite manufacturing capability, and with a space port right next door, enabling clockwork like launches, we can finally get our space sector supply chain to be truly integrated!”

Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “This grant will help to kick-start an exciting new era for the UK space industry, and this is only the beginning of our LaunchUK campaign. We are committed to supporting a commercial market for access to space in the UK, and we will continue to engage with any company who seeks to operate here.”
 
TomcatViP said:
Why not using some places closer to the equator? I guess it would be the most northernly launch site in the world.

SvalRak has it beat at 79 North. Just sounding rockets, though.

The intent is to launch small sats, many of which go to polar orbits anyway. They're interested in Electron as a potential launcher, which currently operates out of New Zealand.
 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44841123

Lockheed has made no secret of its desire to bring the Electron rocket to Scotland. Currently, this vehicle flies out of New Zealand.

A British version of the rocket would have an upper-stage developed and built at LM's UK HQ in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

"This is a defining moment for UK Space," a spokesperson for the company told BBC News. "Lockheed Martin has been working with Britain for over 80 years and we stand ready to support the development of UK launch capability should our extensive experience in developing space infrastructure be called upon."

£2m of this is to be made available to continue investigations into the siting of a "horizontal launch" spaceport as well.

This would see a modified aeroplane leave a British runway, climb to altitude somewhere out over the ocean and then release a rocket that can put the satellite in orbit. A number of such systems are presently in development.

One making waves at the moment is owned by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. His Virgin Orbit company, based in Long Beach, California, has converted an old Virgin Atlantic 747 to dispense its LauncherOne rocket - a maiden flight for which is imminent.

Cornwall, in particular, is very keen to have Virgin Orbit operate out of Newquay airport. The council and the California company will sign a partnership agreement at the air show. A first mission is being targeted for 2021.

It looks like Newquay has been selected for horizontal launch;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44840954

Theresa May is to promise extra investment for the aerospace industry just days after Airbus threatened to reduce its UK presence because of Brexit disruption.

...

At a speech at the Farnborough Airshow on Monday, she will offer more than £300m of government money for several projects, including research on more environmentally-friendly aircraft.

There will be additional money for two new spaceports - one in Cornwall, one in Scotland - and a long-awaited commitment to build a new high-tech fighter aircraft that will eventually replace the Eurofighter Typhoon.
 
More info.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lockheed-martin-and-orbex-to-launch-uk-into-new-space-age
 
Flyaway said:
More info.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lockheed-martin-and-orbex-to-launch-uk-into-new-space-age

Good to see Lockheed-Martin and orbex getting on board to help with the spaceport.
 
Not much point having a base to launch satellites unless you have a vehicle to launch satellites. Perhaps they'll pull R4 from the Science Museum ...
 
CNH said:
Not much point having a base to launch satellites unless you have a vehicle to launch satellites. Perhaps they'll pull R4 from the Science Museum ...

They do it’s called the Electron.

Vertical launch will be accomplished by Launcher One from Virgin Orbit.

Lockheed didn’t disclose the vehicle that will launch from Sutherland, but industry sources have identified the vehicle as Rocket Lab’s Electron. Lockheed Martin made a strategic investment in Rocket Lab in 2015.

https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-orbex-to-launch-from-new-british-spaceport/
 
Rocket Lab said in a statement late Monday that it is “evaluating launch opportunities” from the Sutherland spaceport in Scotland.

“Electron is well-positioned to be the first orbital rocket launched from U.K. soil,” said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO. “We’re excited to review the opportunity to develop a launch service to support the U.K. space industry’s growth.

“Every aspect of Rocket Lab’s launch model is designed to offer rapid, repeatable and precise delivery to orbit for small satellites,” Beck said in a statement. “The development of launch sites around the globe that can support Electron launches is crucial to delivering unprecedented access to orbit.”

“The countdown to the first orbital rocket launch from U.K. soil has officially begun,” said Patrick Wood, Lockheed Martin’s U.K. country executive for space, in a written statement. “The U.K. Government has stated its desire to grow the U.K.’s space sector to ten percent of the global space economy by 2030. We are proud to be selected to help them achieve this goal. This initiative will not only spark advancements in science and innovation, it will create new opportunities for current and future U.K.-based suppliers to become part of the next space age.”

Lockheed Martin said in a statement it will provide “strategic support and guidance” to the Scottish government in developing the Sutherland launch site.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/07/16/scotland-site-selected-as-launch-base-for-lockheed-martin-orbex/

UK rocket launch programme to draw on Lockheed Martin-linked Electron

Lockheed Martin fleshed out its UK Space Agency-backed plans to bring a space launch capability to Scotland from 2020 – with a US-developed rocket now blasting off from New Zealand.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-uk-rocket-launch-programme-to-draw-on-l-450368/
 
Space centre signs deal with aerospace giant

THE COMPANY behind plans to develop a space centre on the island of Unst has joined forces with Shetland Islands Council (SIC) and Lockheed Martin, one of the world's largest aerospace companies, to create a satellite tracking and communication centre on the UK's most northerly island.

Shetland Space Centre project director Scott Hammond, SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison and Patrick Wood, head of Lockheed Martin Space UK, signed a memorandum of understanding at the Farnborough Airshow on Wednesday.

The agreement for a satellite tracking centre, but not a vertical satellite launch base at this stage, was welcomed by Shetland MSP Tavish Scott who said that the signing was a "highly significant day for Unst".

Wood said Lockheed Martin was committed to supporting the UK's goal of expanding its national space industry.

Mr Wood said: "As the UK launches into the next space age, the Shetland Space Centre is the perfect location for vital ground stations as well as space situational awareness technology," he said.

"This effort is a strong complement to our work on the UK Spaceflight Programme, where we will launch the first orbital rocket from UK soil. The future of space across the UK is very bright."

...
 
Orbex reveals Prime’s second stage as it prepares for UK domestic launches

UK launch services provider Orbex has unveiled a completed engineering prototype of the second stage for its Prime rocket at the opening of its new headquarters and rocket design facility in Forres in the Scottish Highlands. Prime is a small satellite launcher that is set to be the first UK rocket to launch UK satellites from a UK launch site. Orbex also announced two customers who have signed up for Prime launches.

Regardless of the historic nature of Prime’s goal to mark the UK’s first end-to-end domestic launch capability, it is also a super-advanced vehicle that sports a specially-formulated lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum composite – and includes the world’s largest 3-D printed rocket engine.
 
"Prime is the first commercial rocket engine designed to work with biopropane, a clean-burning, renewable fuel source that cuts carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to fossil hydrocarbon fuels, supplied by Orbex’s new exclusive BioLPG fuel partner Calor."
I think something got lost in translation there.
 
Probably referring to the total carbon imprint. Don't forget the that by harvesting on waste, it's all the outgasing volume that is de-facto erased from the equation.
 
The planned Space Hub Sutherland is in a spot of legal bother:

Trust it to be a billionaire that tries to stop the spaceport from going ahead. If he wins what is the backup plan for where to stage the rocket launches from.
 
the mayor problem with this Spaceport is
it not only in middle of nowhere, without infrastructure
but also middle of a Nature reserve

that mean eben if Povlsen lost is court
environmentalist could be here more successful with judicial interdiction to install infrastructure there...
 
The planned Space Hub Sutherland is in a spot of legal bother:

Trust it to be a billionaire that tries to stop the spaceport from going ahead. If he wins what is the backup plan for where to stage the rocket launches from.
The lawyer's arguments on public access to the launch site are a bit specious considering there's one road on and off the peninsula, it would take a maximum of two roadblocks to close down access. And it's so far into the back of beyond* the number of people who might try to see a launch would be minimal even in the enthusiast community.

The environmental argument is their best bet, but seeing as the rocket is meant to have minimal emissions they'll really need to push it.

* 40 miles from the closest train station at Thurso
2 hours by road from Inverness
5 hours by road from Edinburgh
 

The Government is planning to pass the Space Industry Regulations 2021 later this year. However, the wording used in the regulations means there is currently no clear cap on liabilities.

Industry executives are now growing increasingly worried that the legislation will potentially leave them on the hook for hundreds of millions of pounds per launch.

“When I asked about this I was told: ‘Well we have the best regulation in the world, of course it will be more expensive’,” one space industry source fumes.

For small rocket companies, such as Edinburgh-headquartered Skyrora, it is proving an unexpected headache.

“We wanted this to be an opportunity rather than a pain,” says Alan Thompson, its head of government affairs.

Rocket firms are still waiting for launch licences, which are due to be handled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Under the current plans, the CAA will agree to liabilities on a case-by-case basis. Each operator will take on a level of risk for disasters on launch or in-orbit collisions, after which the Government will step in.

But with no confirmed maximum cap, rocket companies have complained they face a struggle convincing customers to take a punt on the UK when they may end up footing more of the bill than they had bargained for.

In addition to this, there is a further liability for every satellite launched.

Currently, that is set at up to €60m (£51m). But industry figures are concerned this applies to each individual satellite, meaning a launch of a dozen small satellites, each weighing only a few kilograms, could land firms with hundreds of millions of pounds of risk.

“They are the size of a tin can,” says Skyrora’s Thompson, “don’t tell me that is causing €60m worth of damage.”

The Government is understood to be reviewing the €60m liability for satellite launches.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “No launch or satellite operator will face unlimited liability. Insurance policies have been drawn up following in-depth consultation with stakeholders and we will continue those conversations as we build towards this bold new future of space travel.”

The CAA and UK Space Agency did not comment. However, in a recent presentation to industry, the agency said: “Operators will not face unlimited third-party liability.”

Despite such assurances, space chiefs want to see more concrete action from the Government, which has ambitions to capture 10pc of the global space market by 2030.
 
The planned Space Hub Sutherland is in a spot of legal bother:

Trust it to be a billionaire that tries to stop the spaceport from going ahead. If he wins what is the backup plan for where to stage the rocket launches from.
The lawyer's arguments on public access to the launch site are a bit specious considering there's one road on and off the peninsula, it would take a maximum of two roadblocks to close down access. And it's so far into the back of beyond* the number of people who might try to see a launch would be minimal even in the enthusiast community.

The environmental argument is their best bet, but seeing as the rocket is meant to have minimal emissions they'll really need to push it.

* 40 miles from the closest train station at Thurso
2 hours by road from Inverness
5 hours by road from Edinburgh
For any enthusiasts, I am certain they could develop a comprehensive network of camera's for internet access.
 

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