The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued its first UK spaceport licence to Spaceport Cornwall.

Based at Cornwall Airport Newquay, the UK Civil Aviation Authority said that Spaceport Cornwall met the requirements on safety, security, environment and other factors needed to operate a UK spaceport and conduct horizontal space launches.

The licence allows operator Virgin Orbit to rehearse ahead of a proposed launch, which the UK Civil Aviation Authority said would be the first of its kind in the UK.

The UK government authority said that the space industry is estimated to be worth £16.5 billion and support 47,000 jobs and with 2,500 apprentices.

Commenting on the news Ian Annett, deputy chief executive officer at the UK Space Agency, said: “The first-ever spaceport licence granted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority is another major milestone as we look forward to the first satellite launch from UK soil this year.”

He added: “Getting to this stage is a testament to the hard work from partners across government and industry to make our launch ambitions a reality and we are now tantalisingly close.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority was appointed as the UK’s space regulator in July 2021. It has since issued over 150 satellite licences and recently opened a consultation on the environmental effects of a prospective launch site in Scotland.

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