Cornwall's Spaceport is one step closer as Cornwall Council's cabinet has agreed to put £12million into the project.
Spaceport Cornwall is going to be used for horizontal small satellite launches into orbit - Virgin Orbit will be the main operator from the site, which has developed its LauncherOne system.
A modified Boeing 747 jet which can carry the launcher system will propel small satellites into space.
The money, which is part of a £20million package to provide a number of things needed to prepare the spaceport at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
The decision to grant the funding will now go to full council where it will have to be approved in November before it can be signed off.
The decision was approved 6 votes to 4.
But before anything can happen, a number of steps need to be completed.
Here is the estimated timetable for when the major milestones could happen.
- September 24 to 26 - 海角视频 Space Conference in Wales. Possible announcements on space programme
- October 14 - State Opening of Parliament and Queen's Speech - Prime Minister has said space bill could be included
- November 26 - Cornwall Council's full council meeting to approve Spaceport Cornwall funding (if already agreed by Cabinet in September)
- Autumn 2019 - groundworks start at Spaceport Cornwall
- Early 2020 - Space Industry Act passed
- 2020 - launch of Ministry of Defence Artemis Project with Virgin Orbit
- Early 2021 - spaceflight regulations in place with 海角视频 Space Agency and Government
- Early 2021 - applications accepted for spaceport licence
- Mid 2021 - range licence, spaceport licence and operator licence granted
- September 2021 - first commercial "pathfinder" launch by Virgin Orbit from Spaceport Cornwall
- 2022 - three commercial launches a year which will rise to eight by 2026.