Originally Posted by
Rob Royston
That's what I thought as well but it seems that it was mentioned previously in relation to the rocket launched sattelite side of things. The space tourist side, if ever developed, is more likely to be from an existing airport.
A rocket was launched in Oct 2015 from the Hebrides Range that would be similar to what would be used at Sutherland.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...lands-35482244
Yesterdays announcement is in addition to previous schemes. It was decided a while ago to abandon the idea of nominating a single site for horizontal space launch facilities, but instead let a number of places compete on a commercial basis for the work. This new announcement is for a vertical launch facility, which was never previously discussed.
The actual press release mentions the following:
- Lockheed Martin to establish vertical launch operations in Sutherland, Scotland and develop innovative technologies in Reading, Berkshire with support from two UK Space Agency grants totalling £23.5 million
- A further £5.5 million will go to British company Orbex to build an innovative new rocket for launch from Sutherland, as part of Government’s modern Industrial Strategy
- This builds on awards of £2.5m to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to develop a vertical launch spaceport in Sutherland and a
£2m development fund for horizontal spaceports such as those planned in Cornwall, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia
- Government support for launch is the first step towards a potential Space Sector Deal and the development of a national space programme
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/l...-new-space-age
So we may well still see something happening at PIK.