Recycling Prestwick/Kinloss?
 

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

Or just a nice bribe.

That's the business case made then.

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

OAP

UK Spaceport? In 'operation' by 2018?

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

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

'... 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!

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

OAP

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.

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

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

Happy to be corrected.

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

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

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

Sloppy

Thanks :ok:

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.

Well, it's on 5 Live now.

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"!

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

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

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.

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 ?