On 18/12/2023 22:53, Rich wrote:
> Seen the British "space port?" A joke. A cleared square of land in the middle of nowhere, with no infrastructure just to pretend they have some kind of purchase into space.
>
> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67723524
>

You linked to the wrong article.
<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67741864>

I think the idea is that it's remote enough so that no aircraft regulaly
fly nearby and that is how they got permission from the CAA.

But, yes, it's all a bit meh.

I suppose being so far north it will only good for polar orbits.

On 19/12/2023 00:09, Richard Harnden wrote:
> On 18/12/2023 22:53, Rich wrote:
>> Seen the British "space port?"  A joke.  A cleared square of land in
>> the middle of nowhere, with no infrastructure just to pretend they
>> have some kind of purchase into space.
>>
>> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67723524
>>
>
> You linked to the wrong article.
> <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67741864>
>
> I think the idea is that it's remote enough so that no aircraft regulaly
> fly nearby and that is how they got permission from the CAA.
>
> But, yes, it's all a bit meh.

I have to agree. It is way too far north and has terrible weather.
Hitting a precise launch window will be very entertaining there.

> I suppose being so far north it will only good for polar orbits.

It is only there so that the government can tick a box to say that we
have a "space port". No one in their right mind will use it!

UK makes pretty good satellites and components but relies on others to
do the actual launches. I can't see that ever changing.

--
Martin Brown

On Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 2:04:34 AM UTC-8, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 19/12/2023 00:09, Richard Harnden wrote:
> > On 18/12/2023 22:53, Rich wrote:
> >> Seen the British "space port?" A joke. A cleared square of land in
> >> the middle of nowhere, with no infrastructure just to pretend they
> >> have some kind of purchase into space.
> >>
> >> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67723524
> >>
> >
> > You linked to the wrong article.
> > <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-67741864>
> >
> > I think the idea is that it's remote enough so that no aircraft regulaly
> > fly nearby and that is how they got permission from the CAA.
> >
> > But, yes, it's all a bit meh.
> I have to agree. It is way too far north and has terrible weather.
> Hitting a precise launch window will be very entertaining there.
> > I suppose being so far north it will only good for polar orbits.
> It is only there so that the government can tick a box to say that we
> have a "space port". No one in their right mind will use it!
>
> UK makes pretty good satellites and components but relies on others to
> do the actual launches. I can't see that ever changing.
>
> --
> Martin Brown

Use to work for Satellite mfg, co., company used the Russian Soyuz rockets to launch our SATs.

On Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 3:04:34 AM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:

> UK makes pretty good satellites and components but relies on others to
> do the actual launches. I can't see that ever changing.

Couldn't they rent a site in Australia, say?

John Savard

On 19/12/2023 20:08, Quadibloc wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 3:04:34 AM UTC-7, Martin Brown wrote:
>
>> UK makes pretty good satellites and components but relies on others to
>> do the actual launches. I can't see that ever changing.
>
> Couldn't they rent a site in Australia, say?

ESA has pretty good satellite launch capabilities and so did we until
Brexit stupidity. UK has only just rejoined EU Horizon science programme
after 2 years out in the cold. Total MFU "benefit" of Brexit.

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-signs-agreement-to-rejoin-eus-horizon-science-program/

--
Martin Brown