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Forget the package holiday. A spaceport for commercial flights is being built in the UK

Eight locations have been selected that would be suitable for the new spaceport.

spaceport Artist's impression of the new UK spaceport to be built by 2018. UK Government UK Government

DO YOU NORMALLY holiday in France or Spain? You might want to set your sights a bit higher, a lot higher actually, as the UK Government has announced eight possible locations where they plan to build the country’s first spaceport.

The spaceport, which will cater for commercial flights into space, is to open in 2018.

The eight possible locations are easily accessible from Ireland. Here are the possible locations:

  • Campbeltown Airport (Scotland)
  • Glasgow Prestwick Airport (Scotland)
  • Llanbedr Airport (Wales)
  • Newquay Cornwall Airport (England)
  • Kinloss Barracks (Scotland)
  • RAF Leuchars (Scotland)
  • RAF Lossiemouth (Scotland)
  • Stornorway Airport (Scotland)

Big business

Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency Dr David Parker unveiled the locations, saying that the new spaceport could bring great economic opportunities to the UK.

What are they looking for in a new spaceport?

A suitable location must have an existing runway which is capable of being extended to over 3000 metres in length; the ability to accommodate dedicated segregated airspace to manage space flights safely; and be a reasonable distance from densely populated areas in order to minimise impact on the uninvolved general public.

So, what can we expect from the commercial space travel? Will we need one of these?

mulitpass Tumbler Tumbler

Will we be subject to all the normal checks before travelling?

airport Tumbler Tumbler

Who knows, but these are the sorts of aircrafts we will be flying on:

capture3 Skylon / UK Government Skylon / UK Government / UK Government

Read: The most spectacular piece of rubbish you’re likely to see>

Read: SpaceX are building a solar powered ship to sail up into orbit>

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32 Comments
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    Mute reg morrisey
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 8:49 AM

    What is the difference between a jet engine and a pilot?

    The jet engine stops whining when the plane shuts down.

    103
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 10:25 AM

    Aer Lingus CEOs are making millions per annum, even through covid the top 3 in the company were splitting some €4million between them while on base salaries way over what these folks are looking for. Take what you can get Pilots!!!

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    Mute Unridden Ana
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 12:11 PM

    I don’t know about you but if I’m getting into a metal tube to fly at 1000km/h, 6 miles above terra firma, I want to know that the guy at the pointy end is well rested, stress free and happy in his job and is ready and willing to save us all if the grim reeper comes knocking!! Pay them what they want!

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 9:25 AM

    Pilot’s favourite song, gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down (even if I’m being unreasonable).

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 9:09 AM

    Big lazy bozo pilots ruined everyone’s holidays.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 10:47 AM

    Are people getting reimbursed of their ruined holiday with all the costs included ? If not sue them ! Ruin their paradise, go after them, make them think twice before they do it again !

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 12:06 PM

    @Dominic Leleu: first world problems

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 4:40 PM

    @Dominic Leleu: The blame here falls squarely with the pilots.

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    Mute KB
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 4:49 PM

    @Pat Barry: LOL

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    Mute KB
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 7:55 PM

    €269,000 Euro share bonus received by invisible ‘CEO’ Lynn Embleton last week. All while she watched her understaffed operation cause flight cancellations and untold misery for the travelling public. What working conditions did she sacrifice in order to get this? She can’t say she increased her productivity anyway!

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 8:19 PM

    @KB: Understaffed? The reason for the cancellations is the action by the pilots.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 9:06 PM

    @KB: 2022 Aer Lingus staff = 4,291/ passengers carried 9.02M
    2022 Iberia staff = 15,499/ passengers carried 88.4M

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    Mute KB
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 9:58 PM

    @Pat Barry: they don’t have 4,291 pilots. They are understaffed and that is why the work to rule led to so many cancellations.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 10:26 PM

    @KB: That’s total employees, how can Iberia carry 10 times the amount of passengers with over 3 times the staff, they must be seriously understaffed.

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