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

I'd be interested to see the business case for this.
As a research and development project, yes, but how do they expect to make money?

Subject to noise considerations, shouldn't the spaceport be located near the aerospace industry; centres of research and development; and/or, as suggested by EGHQ (Newquay), a location in need of regeneration and investment?

I believe there is a backlog of bookings and it is not cheap

Ian

NQY might get its Gatwick link it needs then !.
Other than Newquay that must put Campbelltown in the running. Along with Elvington? .
The lster of course is a tad too cllose to a city.
And is I think inside a major RAF air corridor.
But didnt they recently try doing a 'doncaster" and turning it into a proper airport? .
Are there any regulations that prevent it from operating from currently operating airports?
Also how much Runway does it need to take off and land etc?.
If its nearer 10,000 ft , then that has to narrow that has to narrow the candidate list down doesn't it? .
And fi ally I assume All the bogger London airports are totally out of the question?.