UK Gov backs plans for spaceport.

[Rapidash]

BBC

The government has backed plans for a four-fold expansion of the UK space industry to £40bn by 2030.

It is also considering developing the necessary legal framework to permit a spaceport to be set up in the UK.

It is hoped that this might see the growth of new space tourism companies to start operating services in Britain.

There will also be a simplification of regulations and greater coherence to spur the creation of new space firms.

The government made the announcements in response to an industry report published last year called the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy Action Plan.

The industry grew by 7% per annum during the recession. Space technology requires ultra-high precision engineering, which is a UK strength with a background in defence technology companies.

This, coupled with British strength in space science, makes it ideally placed to take advantage of the projected rapid expansion in low-cost satellite launches and space tourism. Space is already a multi-billion-pound industry.

The science minister has been a supporter of the UK space industry and has fostered closer links with the European Space Agency (Esa).

He was closely involved in negotiating the selection of Esa's first "official" UK astronaut, Tim Peake.

Major Peake will be going into space next year to conduct experiments on the International Space Station (ISS).

Mr Willetts said that the space sector could "propel" UK growth.

"Space industries already support 95,000 full-time jobs and generate £9.1bn for the economy each year, and our response to the Growth Action Plan shows our commitment to secure its future growth and realise ambitions to develop a viable UK spaceport for commercial space flight," he explained.

Dr David Parker, chief executive at the UK Space Agency, said that government was working "shoulder-to-shoulder with industry to exploit the full potential of the space sector to grow the economy, deliver more efficient public services and inspire the next generation".

"At the UK Space Agency, we are particularly focusing on helping the rest of government make best use of the huge increase in real-time data from the Galileo and Sentinel satellites, looking at exciting opportunities such as a UK spaceport, and leading an export drive for UK space products and services.

"Our vision is to make the UK the most attractive location for space businesses to set up and prosper - and I'm convinced we are on our way."

The chief executive of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), Dr Matt Perkins, told BBC News that "the space sector has huge potential and I believe the strong government endorsement of this strategy provides a pathway to achieving increased economic benefit for the UK and growth for SSTL."

How long before people start winging about the lack of capacity at Milton Keynes Inter-Orbit Metro Station?

 

[TheKnightWho]

This is absolutely excellent news.

However, I can see it all falling apart if we leave the EU, considering the ESA would stop backing the programme.

 

[edwin_m]

How long before someone promises to put it in Scotland if they vote No?

 

[Jones]

Given that the Russians have told NASA to "Use a trampoline" to get their guys to the ISS, Might be a good time to invest in a "galactic taxi" service.


( Yes I'm aware that NASA are about to start using the Shuttle replacement)

 

[Simon11]

For people who believe that money is being wasted on HS2, at least we can point them in the direction of money being spent on this project!

 

[Jones]

I believe NASA has cost $600Bn since 1958. In 1966 it was 4% of the GDP and that was the highest.

ESA cost's 4Bn Euro a year, divided between all the members.

Although we are talking massive amounts, given it's accomplishments it's peanuts.

 

[Jonny]

I believe NASA has cost $600Bn since 1958. In 1966 it was 4% of the GDP and that was the highest.

ESA cost's 4Bn Euro a year, divided between all the members.

Although we are talking massive amounts, given it's accomplishments it's peanuts.

And all of this would be impossible - the technology that NASA developed for the moon landings, albeit miniaturised and made faster, that has made things like the computers we use possible as well as enabling other systems necessary for the development of the internet.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If the spaceport is built in the north of England, will the space vehicles used be built to the same demanding standards that today are found in the Class 142 Pacer fleet....

The mind boggles at the possibilities afforded by this matter in the future...
1) RailUK members will claim that the poor quality of the spaceships used to ferry passengers to the Moon and to the asteroid belt past Mars was justified as those particular services were only kept viable by the use of Class 142 space-buses (see specification in the first paragraph)
2) First Galactic Express will be told that they have to divest themselves of their 9 Class 170 spacecruiser fleet as Chiltern Spaceways will need them for the proposed new service to Jupiter.

In idle moments, I have often wondered what it would have been like in the earlier series of "Star Trek" when the USS Enterprise passed through a time warp and both Captain James T Kirk and Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy were beamed down to Newton Heath depot and on seeing the serried ranks of "Newton Heath's Finest", the famous statement would be made..
"They're DMU, Jim, but not as we know it"
In the background, the chorus of the space anthem would be playing....
"They're Pacers on the starboard bow, starboard bow"

 

[edwin_m]

I guess the Infinite Improbability Drive would solve all our rail journey time problems at a stroke.

 

[Clip]

I bet the bearded wonder of Branson wil be all over this in the next couple of days...

 

[Jones]

If the spaceport is built in the north of England, will the space vehicles used be built to the same demanding standards that today are found in the Class 142 Pacer fleet....

The mind boggles at the possibilities afforded by this matter in the future...
1) RailUK members will claim that the poor quality of the spaceships used to ferry passengers to the Moon and to the asteroid belt past Mars was justified as those particular services were only kept viable by the use of Class 142 space-buses (see specification in the first paragraph)
2) First Galactic Express will be told that they have to divest themselves of their 9 Class 170 spacecruiser fleet as Chiltern Spaceways will need them for the proposed new service to Jupiter.

In idle moments, I have often wondered what it would have been like in the earlier series of "Star Trek" when the USS Enterprise passed through a time warp and both Captain James T Kirk and Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy were beamed down to Newton Heath depot and on seeing the serried ranks of "Newton Heath's Finest", the famous statement would be made..
"They're DMU, Jim, but not as we know it"
In the background, the chorus of the space anthem would be playing....
"They're Pacers on the starboard bow, starboard bow"

Nurse off is she?

 

[gordonthemoron]

Spaceport? Isn't that a bit old fashioned? Surely we need a Timeport?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Nurse off is she?

Very good indeed....but at least my creativity remains unimpaired....and I am still able to inject a little humour into such a thread as this, based on current events...