PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Spaceflight (14 July 2015)

The Government’s ambition is for a UK spaceport that will be an integral part of Britain’s future in space, providing a focus for regional and international investment, creating new job opportunities, supporting our existing cutting-edge technology companies, and securing UK leadership in an important emerging market.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has studied the potential for horizontal, sub-orbital spaceplane operations from the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceplane-certification-and-operations-uk-government-review.

The Government’s aim now is to create the infrastructure and regulatory environment to operate these innovative technologies safely and commercially, alongside existing civilian and military users.

Following consultation on criteria identified by the CAA for locating a UK spaceport https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria, Llanbedr Airfield, along with Campbeltown Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Newquay Cornwall Airport and Stornoway, were identified as potential locations for a permanent UK spaceport. RAF Leuchars was identified as a potential temporary facility.

The Government is now focussed on developing a technical specification of requirements to provide potential locations with clarity on the detail of what becoming a UK spaceport would involve. It is critical that we provide as much certainty as possible so that potential locations can assess whether spaceplane operations are both feasible and deliverable.

The United States is recognised as the leading nation on commercial sub-orbital spaceflight, and we are currently seeking input on our work from a number of US-based organisations. We are planning to share our work on the detailed technical requirements with all potential locations from September this year.