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UK to launch commercial spaceport by 2018
The U.K. government is laying the groundwork for its first spaceport in anticipation of a growing space tourism demand and a growing space plane industry by 2030, according to a new timetable. Government officials also envision orbital launches from that country within the next 15 years.
According to the new timetable, unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow last year, the U.K. is planning to build $85.5 million spaceport and anticipates a space tourism market worth $65 million each year, as well as a space plane industry worth $40 billion by 2030.
The timetable lays out a number of other specific dates: The spaceport could be operational from 2016; the first suborbital flight would occur in 2018; the first sub-orbital space plane satellite launch from the spaceport would take place in 2020; rocket engine testing for the orbital space plane would occur in 2026, and that space plane would be operational four years later.
The rocket-engine testing refers to hybrid engines, which are used by the Skylon space plane, manufactured by U.K. company Reaction Engines.
The Skylon air breathing rocket that could power a plane anywhere in the world in four hours and get to space in 15 minutes has moved a step closer to blasting off as a major project review said it was possible to operate the plane.
A feasibility study carried out earlier this year as part of the European Space Agency's 'New European Launch Service' requirements for lowering the cost of European launch services by 2016 by using a radical new type of engine, have backed the plans - paving the way for it to blast off in 2019.
The engine is called Sabre, which stands for Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine, and was built by British firm Reaction Engines.
WHAT THEY FOUND
The European Space Agency report, released earlier this year found:
Skylon is potentially Europe's most cost effective space access solution, and is able to compete with existing and anticipated competition.
Systems reusable design has the potential to undercut any other launch system currently in operation.
Once operational, Skylon could be operated independently of subsidies.
Sklyon could launch payloads of upto 15 tonnes into low earth orbit.
Also offer opportunities for spacecraft return, in-orbit servicing and human passengers.
The €1M ESA-funded study identified proved that all current mission requirements for launches can be met.
It also said vehicles operated from Europe's launch site in French Guiana, together with a reusable upper stage, can meet all Europe's launch operator requirements.
Reaction Engines claims Sabre can be used to help accelerate existing aircraft up to five times the speed of sound and plans to use the technology on a unique 3,500mph 'spaceplane' called Skylon.
Now, it is believed the firm is putting the finishing touches to the plan to launch the aircraft - possibly in 2019.
It has been earmarked as a 'high priority' technology project by the UK government following the favourable technical reports from ESA's propulsion experts.
'For example, an aircraft carrying 300 passengers could go from Europe to Australia in about four hours,' said Alan Bond, chief engineer, in a video.
The aircraft will be able to fly Mach 5 - five times the speed of sound - because of the engine, named Sabre, according to Bond.
Modern-day traditional aviation engines have to carry tanks of liquid oxygen when travelling at more than 1,900mph because they can't 'breathe' oxygen.
Oxygen helps an engine to burn the fuel needed to power its propulsion.
Reaction Engine's Sabre design uses a system of pipes, filled with helium.
The air passes through these pipes and the helium helps remove any heat and the oxygen is carried to the engine.
Once in space, the engine is capable of switching into rocket mode.
This means the craft can travel in orbit for around 36 hours and used to launch satellites, for example.
Last year the UK Government has announced plans to provide £60 million for a revolutionary new rocket enginecapable of taking people to Earth's stratosphere in just 15 minutes.
David Willetts, minister for universities and science, said the investment in Sabre would provide support at a 'crucial stage' to allow a full-scale prototype to be built.
'We're investing £60 million in this and we expect them to go out and find private support as well,' Willetts told Radio Five Live.
The Lapcat A2, a passenger plane using the an aircraft carrying 300 passengers could go from Europe to Australia in about four hours
The A2 vehicle, which is designed to be propelled by the Scimitar engine, has exceptional range (ca. 20,000 km both subsonic and supersonic) and is therefore able to service a large number of routes whilst simultaneously avoiding supersonic overflight of populated areas and the related sonic booms that can be heard on the ground. Its good subsonic performance enables it to service conventional subsonic overland routes.
'But we're backing this because it's technology that has been tested in the lab, it's been assessed by outside experts as right in principle.
'Now it needs to be built on a full-scale prototype before it can get commercial.
'We think it's right to support it through that crucial stage.
A passenger version, called the Lapcat A2, is also unver development.
The A2 vehicle, which is designed to be propelled by the Scimitar engine, has exceptional range (ca. 20,000 km both subsonic and supersonic) and is 'able to service a large number of routes whilst simultaneously avoiding supersonic overflight of populated areas and the related sonic booms that can be heard on the ground,' the firm says.
'Its good subsonic performance enables it to service conventional subsonic overland routes.'
- The Sabre rocket engine was created by British firm Reaction Engines
- It can be fitted to planes and travel up to five times the speed of sound
- The company wants to use the technology on a 'spaceplane' called Skylon
- Passenger version called Lapcat A2 could hold 300 passenger for ultrafast travel
- Tests suggest it could cut the cost of space launches by 95%
- European Space Agency study has back the rocket plans to blast off as soon as 2020
The U.K. government is laying the groundwork for its first spaceport in anticipation of a growing space tourism demand and a growing space plane industry by 2030, according to a new timetable. Government officials also envision orbital launches from that country within the next 15 years.
According to the new timetable, unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow last year, the U.K. is planning to build $85.5 million spaceport and anticipates a space tourism market worth $65 million each year, as well as a space plane industry worth $40 billion by 2030.
The timetable lays out a number of other specific dates: The spaceport could be operational from 2016; the first suborbital flight would occur in 2018; the first sub-orbital space plane satellite launch from the spaceport would take place in 2020; rocket engine testing for the orbital space plane would occur in 2026, and that space plane would be operational four years later.
The rocket-engine testing refers to hybrid engines, which are used by the Skylon space plane, manufactured by U.K. company Reaction Engines.
The Skylon air breathing rocket that could power a plane anywhere in the world in four hours and get to space in 15 minutes has moved a step closer to blasting off as a major project review said it was possible to operate the plane.
A feasibility study carried out earlier this year as part of the European Space Agency's 'New European Launch Service' requirements for lowering the cost of European launch services by 2016 by using a radical new type of engine, have backed the plans - paving the way for it to blast off in 2019.
The engine is called Sabre, which stands for Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine, and was built by British firm Reaction Engines.
WHAT THEY FOUND
The European Space Agency report, released earlier this year found:
Skylon is potentially Europe's most cost effective space access solution, and is able to compete with existing and anticipated competition.
Systems reusable design has the potential to undercut any other launch system currently in operation.
Once operational, Skylon could be operated independently of subsidies.
Sklyon could launch payloads of upto 15 tonnes into low earth orbit.
Also offer opportunities for spacecraft return, in-orbit servicing and human passengers.
The €1M ESA-funded study identified proved that all current mission requirements for launches can be met.
It also said vehicles operated from Europe's launch site in French Guiana, together with a reusable upper stage, can meet all Europe's launch operator requirements.
Reaction Engines claims Sabre can be used to help accelerate existing aircraft up to five times the speed of sound and plans to use the technology on a unique 3,500mph 'spaceplane' called Skylon.
Now, it is believed the firm is putting the finishing touches to the plan to launch the aircraft - possibly in 2019.
It has been earmarked as a 'high priority' technology project by the UK government following the favourable technical reports from ESA's propulsion experts.
'For example, an aircraft carrying 300 passengers could go from Europe to Australia in about four hours,' said Alan Bond, chief engineer, in a video.
The aircraft will be able to fly Mach 5 - five times the speed of sound - because of the engine, named Sabre, according to Bond.
Modern-day traditional aviation engines have to carry tanks of liquid oxygen when travelling at more than 1,900mph because they can't 'breathe' oxygen.
Oxygen helps an engine to burn the fuel needed to power its propulsion.
Reaction Engine's Sabre design uses a system of pipes, filled with helium.
The air passes through these pipes and the helium helps remove any heat and the oxygen is carried to the engine.
Once in space, the engine is capable of switching into rocket mode.
This means the craft can travel in orbit for around 36 hours and used to launch satellites, for example.
Last year the UK Government has announced plans to provide £60 million for a revolutionary new rocket enginecapable of taking people to Earth's stratosphere in just 15 minutes.
David Willetts, minister for universities and science, said the investment in Sabre would provide support at a 'crucial stage' to allow a full-scale prototype to be built.
'We're investing £60 million in this and we expect them to go out and find private support as well,' Willetts told Radio Five Live.
The Lapcat A2, a passenger plane using the an aircraft carrying 300 passengers could go from Europe to Australia in about four hours
The A2 vehicle, which is designed to be propelled by the Scimitar engine, has exceptional range (ca. 20,000 km both subsonic and supersonic) and is therefore able to service a large number of routes whilst simultaneously avoiding supersonic overflight of populated areas and the related sonic booms that can be heard on the ground. Its good subsonic performance enables it to service conventional subsonic overland routes.
'But we're backing this because it's technology that has been tested in the lab, it's been assessed by outside experts as right in principle.
'Now it needs to be built on a full-scale prototype before it can get commercial.
'We think it's right to support it through that crucial stage.
A passenger version, called the Lapcat A2, is also unver development.
The A2 vehicle, which is designed to be propelled by the Scimitar engine, has exceptional range (ca. 20,000 km both subsonic and supersonic) and is 'able to service a large number of routes whilst simultaneously avoiding supersonic overflight of populated areas and the related sonic booms that can be heard on the ground,' the firm says.
'Its good subsonic performance enables it to service conventional subsonic overland routes.'
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I can be your guarantor when this project takes off don't worry.
They have been crucial in building and providing services for operation of small/micro satellites all over the world. It's also because of them that our space industry is worth over $17 billion employing over 37,000 people, thus consisting about 8-9% of the world's space industry and that is set to grow to about 15% in the coming decades to over $50bn business by 2030 for the U.K . That's amazing considering the fact that they received basically little to no government support.
