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Author Topic: New support for British spaceports  (Read 1382 times)

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Offline EC

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New support for British spaceports
« on: February 14, 2017, 11:25:18 pm »
The government is looking to push forward commercial spaceflight activity in the UK with a series of grants totalling £10m.

The money is aimed at consortia that want to start launching satellites - and even people - from British soil.

Previous feasibility work has already identified a number of aerodromes that might make suitable spaceports - from Cornwall to Scotland.

Ministers also intend to introduce supporting legislation.

As the law stands, the rocket planes and other launch systems currently in development around the world would not be able to operate out of the UK.

The legislation would put in place the necessary regulatory and licensing framework.

A Spaceflight Bill is likely to be tabled towards the end of the month.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38920584
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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2017, 01:29:32 am »
That'll be interesting
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Offline kevindavis007

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2017, 02:03:50 am »
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Offline Cripplecreek

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2017, 02:09:40 am »
The TARDIS can launch from anywhere.......and when.
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Offline Just_Victor

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2017, 02:21:26 am »
Quote from: EC on February 14, 2017, 11:25:18 pm
The government is looking to push forward commercial spaceflight activity in the UK with a series of grants totalling £10m.


£10m??  You can barely buy a commercial airplane for that.
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Offline Doug Loss

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2017, 05:58:33 pm »
A big problem with that is the latitude of the UK.  There's a reason that launch sites are situated as close to the equator as possible: The higher the latitude of the launch site, the lower the deliverable payload for a given launch vehicle (roughly).  Now if they built a British launch site on Ascension or St. Helena maybe...
« Last Edit: February 15, 2017, 05:59:59 pm by Doug Loss »
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Offline Joe Wooten

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2017, 07:47:27 pm »
Quote from: Doug Loss on February 15, 2017, 05:58:33 pm
A big problem with that is the latitude of the UK.  There's a reason that launch sites are situated as close to the equator as possible: The higher the latitude of the launch site, the lower the deliverable payload for a given launch vehicle (roughly).  Now if they built a British launch site on Ascension or St. Helena maybe...

That's why the only satellite they ever launched total on their own was from Woomera, Australia....
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geronl

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2017, 07:58:54 pm »
Quote from: Just_Victor on February 15, 2017, 02:21:26 am
£10m??  You can barely buy a commercial airplane for that.

Won't even pay for a website these days.... (sarcasm)
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Offline Just_Victor

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Re: New support for British spaceports
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2017, 08:02:06 pm »
Quote from: geronl on February 15, 2017, 07:58:54 pm
Won't even pay for a website these days.... (sarcasm)

Certainly won't cover an 0bamacare exchange.
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