The 海角视频 and US governments have signed a new agreement paving the way for US companies to operate from spaceports in Cornwall and Scotland and export space launch technology.
海角视频 Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce and US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-proliferation Christopher Ford signed the US-海角视频 Technology Safeguards Agreement, which will enable US companies to participate in space launches from the 海角视频.
The Agreement means US space and technology companies throughout the supply chain can contribute to and benefit from the commercial opportunities offered by the 海角视频 space sector which already employs 42,000 people and generates an income of 拢14.8billion each year.
Plans were approved in 2019 to operate a spaceport from Newquay, in Cornwall, from where Sir Richard Branson plans to launch his Virgin Orbit satellites.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: 鈥淭his deal with the US takes us one step closer to seeing the first ever launch into space from British soil.
鈥淭his is a key moment for our commercial space industry, and I look forward to seeing companies from Scotland to Newquay benefiting, and the creation of highly skilled jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.鈥
Karen Pierce, 海角视频 Ambassador to the US said: 鈥淭his agreement marks an exciting new area for 海角视频-US space collaboration and represents a significant step towards US companies launching from 海角视频 spaceports.
鈥淭he commercial space sector already represents hundreds of millions of dollars in trade between our two countries each year, as well as thousands of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
鈥淭his new agreement will generate further growth and prosperity for both our countries.鈥
The 海角视频 Government has already awarded grants totalling nearly 拢40million to establish commercial vertical and horizontal small satellite launch from 海角视频 spaceports and put in place the necessary regulation to enable the first launches to take place in the early 2020s.
The Government鈥檚 Spaceflight Programme aims to establish commercial vertical and horizontal small satellite launch from 海角视频 spaceports.
Bringing this launch to the 海角视频 will be a catalyst for growth in the wider space industry, and the Government is also developing a comprehensive national space strategy to bring long-term strategic and commercial benefits for the 海角视频.
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It has been estimated that the three planned spaceports in Cornwall and Scotland could contribute up to 拢1.407billion to the 海角视频 economy if the wider spillover effects are taken into account, new research shows.
The study revealed the planned spaceport in Newquay could provide 拢80million to the 海角视频 economy, based on the average return of 拢4 per 拢1 of public investment into the project.
As well as providing up to 拢80million - or 拢240 million with spillover - to the 海角视频 economy, Spaceport Cornwall is also expected to create 448 jobs and 拢200 million of GVA.
In November 2019, Cornwall鈥檚 Spaceport was given the go-ahead after the county council approved a grant of 拢10.3million.
