Virgin Space - UK Airport hub news
 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/lift-off-u...8.html#183kUop

Britain could be home to one of the first UK spaceports outside of America by 2018, with a shortlist of possible sites to be announced this week.

The base could act as a hub for commercial space flights, such as those planned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, which will blast would-be astronauts into sub-orbit from the United States for $250,000 (£146,000).

The launch pad would rival the futuristic Spaceport America and would open up a route between Britain and space - even before completion of the London-Birmingham high speed rail link or expansion of Heathrow airport.

Of the eight possible locations to be revealed at the Farnborough Air Show on Tuesday, six are inScotland." End quote.

- - Durham Tees Valley Airport was rumoured to have been considered, but there may be a house being built by Peel on the runway ;)

Suggestion is one is NQY.


cs

Heard a silly rumour today that Filton could be on the cards. Would love that over the proposed housing development that is currently being built near there.

Handily placed for a spot of shopping at Cribbs, though.

Bruce Dickinson's place in Wales may be a contender.

How about Manston?

RAF Upper Heyford

Or Bruntingthorpe (3000m).

Funny I mentioned this on the Manston threaf the other day.
I imagine Campbelltown would be on the list as I think its runway is quite long.
What about Elvington ?
Nice and long but then traffic in York is dreadful and residents kicked up whennthey eanted to turn it into an airport.
I suppose theres Stornoway.
Already just shy of 8000 feet long. Loads of disussed runway areas. They could expand into the north of the airfield .
Its pretty flat and not much traffic.
And Calmac would love the extra trade on their shiney new ferry

When someone said on the Belfast thread there was a restructure of Virgin regional operations coming up, I didn't think they meant Leuchars, Lossie, Newquay, Durham TV or Campbeltown were in prospect.

BBC News - Scotland could be base for spaceport, says UK government

Beeb article including a map of potential places.

Boris Island.

That way, if it fails on take off, it'll drop in the Thames or on France.

Cloud Cookoo Land
 

Along with the Virgin Galactica PR stunt!-))

And if it went to NQY it would probably lead to domestic and international airline route development tbh !




cs

Galactic 'Tiddy Oggies' all round!

Remember all the fuss about Concorde?
 

Well I'm not sure a Saturn 5 is capable of flying a noise abatement profile!-))

? They are not launched by rocket

Ian

I guess many of the above would be fine as a base for a Virgin style sub-orbital jolly but the laws of physics means none of them makes much sense as a future "spaceport" ( as being a suitable launch site for orbital operations).

Do they meet current airport noise regulations?

Epsondog

have a look at this website and it should answer all your questions
Welcome | Virgin Galactic
it`s not as if they are going to launch a space shuttle

Ian