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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Spaceflight (10 July 2018)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent progress his Department has made being made on establishing a site for a UK space launch facility.

Asked by:
Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat)

Answer

Our Industrial Strategy recognises the role of new markets like space launch in driving growth across the UK. The Government is delivering a major programme to enable companies to offer small satellite launch and sub-orbital spaceflight from UK spaceports.

The UK Space Agency has considered 26 proposals for grant funding to kick-start satellite launch and spaceflight operations in the UK.

On Monday we announced £31.5 million in funding to enable satellites to be launched from Sutherland, Scotland, which aims to be the first vertical spaceport to launch satellites into space from mainland Europe.

Alongside this, we have also announced plans, subject to business case, for up to £2 million of funding for airports such as Newquay, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia planning to build the market for horizontal spaceflight using air-launched rockets and sub-orbital spaceplanes.


Answered by:
Mr Sam Gyimah (Liberal Democrat)
16 July 2018

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