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1.05.2015

Rumoured UFO site "best for spaceport", Machrihanish backers say as they launch official bid

IT was once rumoured to be a base for top secret UFO investigations and has already served as an emergency landing site for a US space shuttle.

Now the community-owned airbase in Machrihanish in Kintyre has launched its official bid to be named the UK's first spaceport, citing the previous support of Virgin Galactic and the advantage of its 3000ft runway.

Three of the shortlisted sites are in Scotland, including Scottish Government-owned Prestwick Airport, but the agency behind its bid believe the Machrihanish is the leading candidate.

Tom Miller, chairman of Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) and director of Discover Space UK, said previous endorsements from NASA and Sir Richard Branson's pioneering space tourism outfit, Virgin Galactic, stood in its favour.

Mr Miller said: "Machrihanish has a long-history with space flight, going back to the launch of NASA's Space Shuttle in 1981.

"Machrihanish was an emergency landing site for the shuttle in Europe, with our 3,049m runway long enough to welcome the shuttle and get it airborne again aboard a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

"Then in 2009, the last time the UK looked at establishing a spaceport, Virgin Galactic said Machrihanish was one of its preferred sites for the UK spaceport.

"That's not our only connection to the stars. Paul McCartney's Mull of Kintyre estate is just 15 minutes from the base and the airbase itself was rumoured to have been used for testing top secret aircraft - so it's only fitting that Machrihanish Airbase leads the way by becoming the UK's first spaceport."

The airbase was nicknamed 'the UK's Area 51' following rumours it was previously used by the US Airforce to test secret aircraft and investigate UFOs.

Machrihanish is the only potential spaceport site which already meets the Civil Aviation Agency's criteria for a minimum 3000ft runway length, while organisers believe its remote location on a 1000 acre stretch of land removed from densely populated areas also make it an ideal place to welcome the first wave of space tourists - likely to pay up to £200,000 per head for a sub-orbital trip.

The UK Government wants to establish the UK's first spaceport by 2018, with Stornoway Airport in Scotland also in the running along with sites in Newquay and Wales.

The preferred location is expected to be announced by the UK Government later this year.

Mr Millar added picking Machrihanish to become the UK's first spaceport would transform the area.

He said: "A spaceport would provide a significant jobs boost and would revitalise local businesses. It would also help drive tourism from all over the world, which would be a real boom for the whole of the UK."

It comes after Prestwick Airport launched its official bid to become the spaceport last week.

Prestwick Spaceport Director Stuart McIntyre said they would offer the global space industry "a highly capable facility" for polar orbit launches and research.

It has previously been said that securing spaceport status would be a "catalyst for transformational change" at the ailing hub, which was bought by the Scottish Government in 2012.

Quelle: heraldscotland

Update: 7.08.2016

Promoting Argyll as the UK’s first spaceport is council’s top priority

Making Argyll the home of the UK’s first spaceport is a top priority for the local authority.

And next week a committee of Argyll and Bute Council will be asked to write to the UK Government to promote the former Machrihanish Airbase near Campbeltown as the best site.

It is estimated that the UK space industry could create up to 100,000 jobs by 2030.

Discover Space UK has been established as a subsidiary of the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) to work with the council as a consortium partner with added support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The site at the former Machrihanish airbase at the southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula – with only open sea to the west – is regarded as an ideal location for a polar orbit satellite launch. It covers an area of over 1000 acres in community ownership and boasts a 1.8 mile runway.

The work to date has involved a series of highly technical studies by space industry experts to demonstrate the suitability of Machrihanish as a place to site the first UK Spaceport.

Prestwick, Stornoway, Newquay, Llanbedr in Wales and Machrihanish were the five sites still in the running to be the first spaceport.

It was announced in the recent Queen’s speech that process to identify a site will be moved to a licensed model approach.

Locations complying with the necessary requirements for a spaceport will be able to apply to be licensed. However, it is not known if there will be a limit to the number of licences granted.

In a report before the Environment Development and Infrastructure committee, which is due to meet on Thursday, Pippa Milne, executive director of development and infrastructure, says: “The development of an UK Spaceport at Campbeltown, Machrihanish, will have far reaching positive effect on the economy of Kintyre and beyond through the provision of new industries, high quality jobs, improved infrastructure and research capabilities.

“This transformational project is exactly what Kintyre and Argyll needs to grow our economy and offer a range of high value job opportunities that improve local people’s life chances. The proposal allows for full development of the site’s potential as an international hub for the UK space industry and its associated industrial supply requirements.”

Following next week’s meeting the council is expected to write to the Scottish Government calling for the Machrihanish Community Airbase to be declared an Enterprise Area for UK Spaceport and Aviation activity.

Quelle: Aberdeen Journals

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