The UK’s first spaceport is set to be built in Scotland in Sutherland – but the Western Isles’ MP says it is ‘hugely disappointing’ North Uist missed out.
The UK Government aims to take the UK into the commercial space age by enabling small satellite launch and spaceflight from UK spaceports, carrying fee-paying passengers into orbit. It shortlisted several coastal aerodromes that could be converted into spaceports. Sutherland is the first vertical launch site to be awarded grant money.
Initial funding of £2.5 million will go to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to develop a vertical launch site on the A’Mhoine peninsula, between Tongue and Durness, which could see lift-off from the early 2020s and create hundreds of jobs.