Space and astronomy

[SteveH]

PLANS to enable UK spaceflights to “flourish” while remaining “safe” will be published on Friday, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

The Government will release its response to a consultation on regulatory changes required to allow the country’s first space launch to take place within the next few years.

Traditional rockets launched vertically into space, high-altitude balloons and spaceplanes could all set off from UK soil once the measures are introduced, according to the DfT.

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[Ian]

For orbital insertion rockets would normally have to be launched from the East coast. That way they gain speed from planetary rotation and, if anything goes badly wrong, the North Sea is better than the land for dropping bits on.  But I'll be very surprised if anything comes of it. We're too far from the equator for starters.