Recycling Prestwick/Kinloss?

[Al R]

BBC News - Scotland could be base for spaceport, says UK government (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28276525)

Or just a nice bribe.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander hinted that Scotland could become a key player in the UK government's future plans for developing commercial space travel. "Scotland has a proud association with space exploration. We celebrated Neil Armstrong's Scottish ancestry when he became the first man on the Moon..".

That's the business case made then.

[Onceapilot]

Pretty much a joke. Best invest the cash on supporting the successfull elements of UK space tech!

OAP

[cobalt42]

UK Spaceport? In 'operation' by 2018?

Hahahahahahahahaha.................haha. :D Nice one Danny.

[diginagain]

Don't laugh, but there are moves afoot to promote London Newquay/St Mawgan as a suitable place for a spaceport:

http://www.cornishspaceport.com/index.html

[cobalt42]

'... in operation by 2018'.

By the time the Planning Application has been called in by Sec State, for the third time, EGLL will have its third, possibly fourth, runway...; the RN will have two operational carriers; RAF/FAA will be flying 10 squadrons of F35s and the MPA force will have won Fincastle... for the third time since bring the P8 into RAF service.

And I've just seen a pink pig heading for a visual at EGHI, though this 'vision' may have been caused by a pint or three of Doom Bar.

Laugh... the very idea!

[Onceapilot]

Maybe they could integrate it at Brize? Would fit in well. :oh:

OAP

[ion_berkley]

There is a very good reason why all existing space launch facilities tend towards the equator (And launch to the East).....someone needs to do their homework before opening their mouth.

[gsa]

The If you vote for Independence look what you'll miss out on trick.

[500N]

I thought if you were launching something into space you wanted to be nearer the equator ?

Happy to be corrected.

[Sloppy Link]

If you're happy to be corrected, check spelling/spell checker, I think you meant "nearer".

[Arty Fufkin]

Doesn't it all depend on the desired inclination of the orbit?

C'mon, it's not rocket science!!

[500N]

Sloppy

Thanks :ok:

[ion_berkley]

Doesn't it all depend on the desired inclination of the orbit?

Arty, In truth, your point is a good one, there are some categories of orbit that a location at a high latitude is potential advantageous for; So called polar orbits, and sun synchronous orbits being the obvious ones. It's all a matter of whether the additional rotational velocity you get from being at the Equator is a help or a hinderance. Plesetsk at 63'N being the obvious example of such a location. For Geo-stationary and Nasa style deep space work, the temporary injection orbit is always going to be in the Equatorial plane.

The other major factor is the issues of the various launch components returning to Earth downrange and what happens when stuff goes wrong...it tends to be very advantageous to launch over big Oceans...or at least unpopulated desolation. I'm sure the Scandinavians would be very excited by it all.

I wonder if all that Scottish rain pi$$ing down on a cryogenic stage would make for a giant flying popsicle.

[Al R]

Well, it's on 5 Live now.

[Wander00]

BBC News just did a bit about the "spaceport" Map put Llanbedr just about on the England/Wales border, then talked about airfields near "the coast"!

[aislinn]

Like Wallops Island, VA;)
Seriously. These are to be sub orbital.
In the future more SI may be required to do orbital.

[Always a Sapper]

Be better off putting the money into the exisiting transport infrastructure and making that actually work for a change.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Space Flight: The Application of Orbital Mechanics - YouTube

[Simplythebeast]

I think we wont be seeing any rockets being launched from that site but space vehicles piggybacking on aircraft which will use the conventional runway, and which will return to land on the runway. So all that equator, east facing stuff dont really matter much.

[500N]

Which they can do from anywhere so why would they pick a cold, wet and windy location when you can do it from a nice, warm location ?

[Mogwi]

Less far for the Chief TP of Virgin Galactic to commute.

Off to fly the Tiger!

[500N]

mogwi

What may I ask is the Tiger ?

[Simplythebeast]

500N "Which they can do from anywhere so why would they pick a cold, wet and windy location when you can do it from a nice, warm location ?"

You don't really want returning "space" vehicles flying through busy airspace so there is a need to choose areas without high traffic levels.
It would be interesting if they choose a Scottish base and Scotland then goes independent meaning the British Space port will be in a foriegn land?

[Hangarshuffle]

This was on BBC world news earlier today - isn't it all to do with Branson and the so called Virgin Galactic project? Piggy back aircraft as some one just posted with fee paying joyriders at 250k a pop?... ideal place then, Prestwick.

[Onceapilot]

So, not really a space-port then...:O! Don't think this high alt experience fad will be a world changer. Anyway, lets say you have £100,000 or so to take this trip, it is not going to break the bank to make it into a full blown US of A holiday tour. Who would risk their neck on a rainy day in the UK!:rolleyes:

OAP

[diginagain]

Who would risk their neck on a rainy day in the UK!I don't know; there's always the Eden Project if Newquay's clamped-in.

[PICKS135]

Macrahanish. Big runway and miles from people.

Just call it Campbeltown [Prestwick].

[Al R]

The future.

U.K. Space Program Seeks Change With Zero-Gravity-Tourism Push - WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-k-space-program-seeks-change-with-zero-gravity-tourism-push-1405535070)

[Onceapilot]

This is utter UTTER tosh!:mad:

OAP

[chopper2004]

Mad Little Island (1958) - IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050910/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)

:ok: lol :)


Anyone want to hazard a guess that creation of space industry up there with launch facilities may generate a hidden agenda? The agenda of covering another agenda for the bumps in the night at Machrihanish during the 80s and 90s and the speedy blips across the DATCO's screen at Leuchars, one wee night AND long may the bumps and humps in the night continue though no longer at Machrihanish be possible :) :cool:

Good luck to the plans,

Cheers

[Arty Fufkin]

Hey OAP, on this particular subject, our views are completely aligned!

Bloody "private NASA!"

Sorry, couldn't resist................:)

[Onceapilot]

Cheers Arty!;)

OAP

[Al R]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/11/19/uk-clear-way-us-space-rocket-launches-

Britain could soon launch US rockets into space as trade negotiators are striking regulatory deals to remove barriers to trade, even before the UK leaves the EU. A full free trade deal cannot be negotiated before Brexit, but regulatory barriers to trade can be tweaked or removed more quickly and the Department for International Trade is working on identifying these impediments. In the space industry’s case, that means making sure US technology matches UK safety and environmental standards, while also reassuring the Americans that technology developed in the US will be used securely in Britain.

[BEagle]

Unless you have the luxury of vast, sparsely inhabited areas such as Baikonur, to avoid wasting fuel and limiting payload, a launching site for space vehicles needs to be:

1. As close to the Equator as possible.
2. On an east coast.

Hence the Ariane site at Kourou is ideal - and is also why the US uses Cape Canaveral.

Prestwick would be far from ideal and Kinloss almost as bad. Quite where a UK site could be based is difficult to imagine. As would be firing rockets up through busy airspace!

Another daft idea from Mother MayDay's increasingly weak and unstable government?

[ORAC]

For geostationary perhaps, but for polar orbits to give total coverage it would seem well placed. Though I believe it is intended more for Virgin Galactic type short hops.

[Davef68]

Shetland has been mentioned!

[Onceapilot]

BBC News - Scotland could be base for spaceport, says UK government (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28276525)

Or just a nice bribe.



That's the business case made then.

Hi Al, here comes the same crap again.....:yuk:

OAP

[Reverserbucket]

But hold on a minute, this isn't rockets launching from pads being discussed here s it? I was under the impression that this was for piggyback ops for satellite delivery rather than Virgin Galactic type joy rides?

[NutLoose]

What about the Isle of Wight?

Isle of Wight Rocket Testing Station (http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/island-guide/places-to-visit/isle-of-wight-heritage-attractions/needles-rocket-testing-station/)

[chevvron]

Which they can do from anywhere so why would they pick a cold, wet and windy location when you can do it from a nice, warm location ?

Such as Banjul/Yundum? Lengthened to 3,600m/11,800ft to accept Shuttle emergency landings.

[ShotOne]

"Another daft idea from May's weak and unstable government" In fact these plans, daft or not, long pre-date the present government. How about a nice stable government...like that of Ms Merkel?

[KPax]

Prestwick v St Mawgan weather alone I don't recall Prestwick being closed for weather in the 2 years I was there, not sure the same could be said for SM. As for wide open spaces and clear skies 'The Hebrides Range, set up in the 1950s, has sites on Benbecula, North and South Uist and a radar station on the remote St Kilda archipelago.The range offers the largest area in the UK for the live-firing of rockets and missiles.

[Wander00]

I cannot help but put this in a category with the village near the Gulf of Arcachon south of Bordeaux, where there is a toy space capsule for kids to play in and a sign saying that the local council has designated the area as where visitors from outer space will be welcomed.....honest

[NutLoose]

and a sign saying that the local council has designated the area as where visitors from outer space will be welcomed.....honest

Ahh but that's just Aliens, for a real sit at home experience, look no further than

Christian Networks Prepare For Return Of Jesus With Live Stream From Mount Of Olives (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/christian-networks-prepare-live-stream-jesus-mount-of-olives_n_1949219)

[Rosevidney1]

Sacre bleu!

[Wander00]

NL - now that is utterly preposterous by comparison.......

[ORAC]

Yes, but that’s more a landing site than a launch pad.....

[nimboboy]

Cornwall Council in their wisdom have just a few week's ago spent £30.000 on sending a half dozen of Cornwall's great and good to New Mexico, or some such exotic place in the US, on a fact finding holiday, sorry, tour, they really are serious about this, the space port thing, that is, maybe they think if they can pull this off they will be able to sell St Mawgan at a profit, well at least more than the quid they paid for it.