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(Source: Press and Journal)

Science minister told of Lossie spaceport idea

Science Minister Lord Drayson has been urged to include the possibility of Lossiemouth becoming a spaceport in pursuing his policy of increasing the UK's share of the space technology market.

The plea has been delivered by Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson following publication of the government's Space Innovation and Growth Strategy for the next two decades.

The document sets out the aim to “firmly establish the UK as one of the world's leading space nations” and details the changes in the business environment to see this happen.

The paper was referring to the UK's acknowledged expertise designing satellites.

Mr Robertson said in his letter to the minister in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Skills: “I do hope that, as the UK embarks on this exciting growth path, you will bear in mind the benefits of Lossiemouth in my Moray constituency as a launch site for both space tourism flights and domestic satellite launches.”

He added: “Scotland offers the right combination of aeronautical, technical and climactic factors to host these flights and Lossiemouth RAF base is acknowledged as the leading site for operations.

“In addition, public agencies such as the Moray Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are very interested in exploring these opportunities, as is the SNP Scottish Government.”

Mr Robertson was referring to Virgin Galactic's plans to offer space tourism flights at £121,500 each using a new type of craft being developed in California by Sir Richard Branson's company and a US aeronautical engineering firm.

A small craft would be carried to the upper reaches of the atmosphere by a giant transport plane and then use its own rocket engines for a brief excursion into outer space.

Virgin Galactic president Will Whitehorn has visited Moray to look at the prospects for using Lossiemouth and to deliver a lecture on the possibilities for commercial space travel in Lossiemouth Town Hall.

Rocketeer comments: Hyperbola goes into more detail regarding the launch site selection study commissioned by BNSC which led to Lossiemouth being the leading candidate for a future UK spaceport.

David Williams, director general for the BNSC, told Hyperbola about the study's conclusion at the 10 February publication event of the Space innovation and growth team report. Within the report's 16 recommendations it proposes changes to the UK Outer Space Act - the UK's domestic law to comply with the cold war-era outer space treaties its ratified - to help space tourism operators.

The BNSC study examined the UK's coastline for likely launch sites and due to launch system reliability and a need for a clear airspace Williams says that Lossiemouth is the best option. Due to its northerly location it also has advantages for satellites that are to be placed in a polar orbit.