UK Spaceport

Froggitt

Three Scottish sites are in the pool of five from which the UK's spaceport will be chosen, with Prestwick a clear front runner, although Newquay in Cornwall is making a strong case.

Why on earth would the UK site a Spaceport in Scotland, when every other week there is some SNP politician banging on about another referendum and leaving the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36303741

http://www.spaceportscotland.org/

Browntoa

so after Brexit we can still reach the USA by using Bransons rocket ship without flying over EU airspace

Froggitt

I'm not sure space counts as EU airspace.

Generali

Froggitt wrote: »

Why on earth would the UK site a Spaceport[STRIKE] in Scotland,[/STRIKE] when [STRIKE]every other week there is some SNP politician banging on about another referendum and leaving the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36303741

http://www.spaceportscotland.org/[/STRIKE] the UK is such a massive distance from the equator?

Hope that helps Froggitt.

unforeseen

Originally Posted by Froggitt
Why on earth would the UK site a Spaceport [STRIKE]in Scotland,[/STRIKE] when [STRIKE]every other week there is some SNP politician banging on about another referendum and leaving the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36303741

http://www.spaceportscotland.org/ [/STRIKE]the UK is such a massive distance from the equator?

Generali wrote: »

Hope that helps Froggitt.

Possibly because they don't want/need to put anything in a geostationary orbit? They have use of the Guiana Space Centre and Ariane 5s for that purpose.

US manages quite well by launching from Kennedy Space Centre (28N) and the Russians manage with Baikonur (49N) so Prestwick at 55N is feasible

Froggitt

1. Distance to outer space from Newquay - 62 miles.

2. Distance to outer space from the equator (anywhere along it) - 62 miles.

Hope that also helps.

wymondham

If we can up our space programme then we'll be in line for massive handouts from other countries as aid?

unforeseen

Froggitt wrote: »

1. Distance to outer space from Newquay - 62 miles..

But you would never reach terminal velocity, especially in Summer with all the caravans about

kabayiri

8.5% of the space port should be in Scotland and the rest in the other parts of the UK.

...so that's the duty free lounge dealt with

I'm actually hoping they will sell a brand of port called "space" in the space port

VX5087

put it on a cliff edge and you could have port and lemming

chris_m

Froggitt wrote: »

1. Distance to outer space from Newquay - 62 miles.

2. Distance to outer space from the equator (anywhere along it) - 62 miles.

Now look at the rotational speed of the Earth's surface at Newquay and at the equator, the latter is somewhat faster therefore a rocket already has more velocity if launched from close to the equator than from further away - which is why agencies try to get launch sites as close to the equator, within other practical considerations, as they can.

Hope that helps too