The UK is looking to build four new spaceports , hoping to provide a boost the the country 's growing space industry . The plans , outlined by aerospace engineer Greg Clark , include a vertical rocket launch site in Sutherland on the west coast of Scotland , which could be used to put small satellites into orbit within three years . The other facilities will be horizontal launch sites , where modified planes are used to launch space vehicles , and are planned for international airports at Prestwick and Newquay , and another site in Snowdonia .
The UK is looking to build four new spaceports, hoping to provide a boost the the country's growing space industry. The plans, outlined by Business Secretary Greg Clark, include a vertical rocket launch pad in Sutherland on the north coast of Scotland, which could be used to put small satellites into orbit within three years. The other facilities would be horizontal launch sites, where modified planes are used to launch space vehicles, and are planned for existing airports at Prestwick and Newquay, and another site in Snowdonia.