Investment Positions Cornwall at Centre of UK Space Industry

A multi-million pound investment by the Cornwall Council into a horizontal launch spaceport to be developed at Cornwall Airport Newquay, is set to provide business opportunities ranging from manufacturing and design to engineering and research. Spaceport Cornwall, which will position the south-west firmly within the £15 billion space industry, plans to create 150 jobs and add £200m Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy over the next five years.

Partners include Virgin Orbit, the UK and European space agencies, the South West Satellite Applications Catapult and the University of Exeter which has established the South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications at its Penryn Campus.

The launch of satellites and space applications play a critical role in our understanding of the environment, natural resources and changing world and the initiative is also working to establish an Institute of Extreme Environments, bringing together leading research in areas such as marine and polar sciences, deep earth mining, unmanned vehicles and medicine in extreme conditions.

The new Institute will also provide a platform for developing research and education programmes that will contribute to the estimated 30,000 graduates needed for the UK space industry by 2030.

Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter said: “Our mission at Exeter is to make the exceptional happen by challenging traditional thinking and defying conventional boundaries. Spaceport Cornwall gives the whole region an opportunity to take a giant leap forward in science and innovation so that we address some of the big challenges of our time. It is also a great moment to inspire businesses and students to take advantage of the rapidly growing UK Space industry. We congratulate all the partners in making Spaceport Cornwall a reality and thank Cornwall Council for their leadership and investment for the local community.”  

Miles Carden, Director, Spaceport Cornwall said:

“The assistance provided by the South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications has been invaluable and typical of the joined up approach employed across all Launch UK partners working together to launch the UK back into space.”