UK business secretary Greg Clark launched a government initiative on Monday at Farnborough 2018 aimed at stimulating what is called the "Great British Space Age." A proposed vertical spaceport, to be built in Sutherland, Scotland, received initial funding of £2.5 million ($3.3 million).
An additional £2 million ($2.65 million) will go toward developing horizontal spaceports across Britain, with sites proposed at Newquay, Glasgow, Prestwick, and Snowdonia. The UK government envisions a potential £3.8 billion ($5 billion) contribution to the national economy from commercial space-based operations over the next decade.
“As a nation of innovators and entrepreneurs,” said Clark, “we want Britain to be the first place in mainland Europe to launch satellites as part of our industrial strategy. This will build on our global reputation for manufacturing small satellites and help the whole country capitalize on the huge potential of the commercial space age.”
The Sutherland site was selected for its potential for reaching the most sought-after orbits for vertically launched satellites. The initial funding goes to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to develop the site, which is anticipated to generate “hundreds of jobs.” Clark anticipates first launches in the early 2020s.
According to UK Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, “Today’s announcement is exciting for places like Newquay in Cornwall, too, paving the way for further potential spaceports in future.”
“We have the right geography and a skilled engineering base in aerospace, electronics, and the software industries,” said Alun Cairns, secretary of state for Wales, “standing ready to diversify and flourish in the fast-developing space market.”