Sutherland Spaceport
| Sutherland Spaceport | |
| Code | |
|---|---|
| County | Sutherland |
| Spaceport | |
| Location | NC537607 58°30’39"N, 4°30’44"W |
| Website | |
The Sutherland Spaceport, also known as Space Hub Sutherland or UKVL Sutherland, is a planned spaceport being built on the A' Mhòine peninsula north-west of Tongue village in Sutherland. Groundbreaking occurred on 5 May 2023.
The spaceport was planned to be the first space launch site in the United Kingdom though Spaceport Cornwall, in Newquay achieved a launch in 2023, of a Virgin Galactic rocket slung beneath a 747.[1] It was then planned to be the first vertical launch capable spaceport in the United Kingdom, but is likely to be beaten by SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, which has scheduled launches in 2024.
The Sutherland spaceport is intended to support the Orbex Prime launch vehicle.
Overview
The facility will be operated by a commercial Launch Pad Operator, and Orbex was given a lease to both build and operate the spaceport in 2022. The proposed spaceport is expected to employ some 40 people directly and with another 400 jobs supported indirectly. Initial development was through the local development agency, the Highlands and Islands Enterprise.[2][3][4]
The facility was originally planned to be shared by both Orbex and Lockheed Martin, and to potentially use two separate launch pads, as the two rockets use different propellants. However, the final planning application includes only one launch pad. In 2020, the UK Space Agency announced that Lockheed Martin had selected Shetland Space Centre at Saxa Vord on Unst, while Orbex will remain at Sutherland.[5]
The location at A' Mhòine peninsula has a particular value for launches to polar orbits, in having a clear northern coast which allows rockets to launch due north without land areas under the flight path. The northerly flight path can place small satellites into polar orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit.
The nearest community to the spaceport is the crofting township of Talmine, alongside the Kyle of Tongue, with a population of 200.
The space hub proposed site is within the 2,464-acre Melness Crofters Estate, of which 13 acres will be leased to Highland and Islands Enterprise and enclosed to secure the spaceport infrastructure. The surrounding land is common grazing for the crofters.[6]
See also
Outside links
- Launch Site: Orbex
- Aerospace expert to lead countdown to Sutherland Spaceport launches after being taken on by Orbex: John Davidson in the John O'Groat Journal, 15 August 2023
References
- ↑ Morris, Steven (2023-01-09). "UK's first orbital rocket mission takes off from Cornwall" (in en). https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/09/uks-first-orbital-rocket-mission-takes-off-from-cornwall.
- ↑ "Space, not Brexit, is final frontier for Scottish outpost". Agence France Presse. 20 July 2018. https://www.afp.com/en/news/2265/space-not-brexit-final-frontier-scottish-outpost-doc-17s9ed1.
- ↑ Chris McCall (19 July 2018). "Forget Cape Canaveral, Scotland's first spaceport proves small is beautiful". The Scotsman. https://www.scotsman.com/future-scotland/tech/forget-cape-canaveral-scotland-s-first-spaceport-proves-small-is-beautiful-1-4771021.
- ↑ Kenneth Macdonald (16 July 2018). "Sutherland prepares for spaceport launch". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-44841963.
- ↑ "Shetland spaceport boosts UK's plans for launch" (in en). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shetland-spaceport-boosts-uks-plans-for-launch.
- ↑ "Space Hub Sutherland Application Submitted to Scottish Land Court". 30 August 2020. https://www.hie.co.uk/latest-news/2020/august/31/space-hub-sutherland-application-submitted-to-scottish-land-court/.