Government announces shortlist of potential sites for new spaceport
A new spaceport offering supersonic round-the-world flights as well as commercial trips into space could be built in Campbeltown, Glasgow or Stornoway in Scotland or in Newquay or Llanbedr in Wales.
The locations were all named yesterday as possible sites for the spaceport which has won Government backing following a three-month consultation.
The spaceport, which ministers are hoping will be open by 2018, will be the first outside the US. It is hoped it will attract companies like Virgin Galactic and XCOR Aerospace to fly from the site.
At the moment, Virgin Galactic is running unmanned test flights into space from a purpose-built spaceport in the Mojave Desert.
"Launching satellites and operating commercial space flights from our shores was once only confined to the depths of science fiction," said Vince Cable, the business secretary. "But with the results of this consultation we are one step closer to making this a very real ability in the near future."
"I want Britain to lead the way in commercial spaceflight," said aviation minister Robert Goodwill. "Establishing a spaceport will ensure we are at the forefront of this exciting new technology."
Authorities said the precise location of the spaceport will depend on a number of factors, including limiting danger and inconvenience for members of the public. All the earmarked sites are near to the coast, so aircraft could fly out over water.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025