The move is expected to reduce the UK’s dependence on other launch countries to place British-built and operated satellites into space
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps signed a declaration with his US counterpart for spaceflight collaboration. (Credit: Crown copyright)
The British and the US governments have signed a pact to allow the launch of rockets, high-altitude balloons, and spaceplanes from spaceports across the UK.
A declaration in this connection was signed by the UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and the US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Under this, the two countries pledged to collaborate on future commercial spaceflight missions.
The partnership between the two nations is expected to help in launching spaceflight operations that are cheaper, quicker, and more streamlined due to close collaboration on licensing of commercial space launches.
According to the UK Department for Transport, the pact will cut down red tape and the regulatory hurdles to operators. This will lead to greater efficiencies and a decrease in resources, costs, and duplication while sustaining stringent safety standards, said the department.
Shapps said: “This transformational partnership is one giant leap for both countries as we prepare for an exciting new era of spaceflight to lift off.
“With 7 spaceports being developed across the UK, the space industry is already injecting billions into our economy while offering high-skilled jobs.
“As we look beyond the UK’s first planned spaceflight later this year, I look forward to seeing the innovations and opportunities skyrocket thanks to this collaboration.”
The Department for Transport stated that providing launch capability will give British firms as well as those from other countries direct access to the space environment. It will also create high-skilled jobs across the UK and level up some of the highly remote communities, said the department.
The move is expected to cut down the UK’s dependence on other launch countries to place British-built and operated satellites into space.
It will help make processes to host American spaceflight operators in the UK easier and more efficient apart from streamlining the steps for British space organisations which intend to operate in the US.
Buttigieg said: “Commercial space travel is growing swiftly and it’s our responsibility to ensure that these innovations advance safely, encouraging them to develop in ways that benefit us all.
“We’re proud to launch this partnership with the United Kingdom to bring more of the benefits of commercial space travel to our workers, businesses, and communities.”
Earlier this year, US-based Virgin Orbit signed an agreement with Space Forge, a Welsh in-space manufacturing tech start-up, for launching the latter’s satellite into space in summer 2022. The satellite will be launched from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, England.