Cornwall set for lift-off into space as landmark agreement is made between UK and US
The Duchy will make international history this summer
Cornwall is set to make history as the UK's first satellite is set to launch from Newquay this Summer.
It comes as a landmark partnership between the UK and the Us has been made to see a new era of spaceflight, making launches from both countries easier and cheaper.
The declaration hopes to see an exciting future for the space industry in the Duchy, with thousands of high-skilled jobs being created.
Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, told us: "This is massive for Cornwall because it's kind off the back of G7 last summer where people can where the world could see what we were doing in Cornwall and we're really representing it in a new way and we're really challenging perceptions of Cornwall so for us bringing a high tech industry like space here, Cornwall once again will be part of history.
"The reason me and my team get up every single morning is to inspire the next generation, this is what this project is all about. It's using space to inspire children to get into careers in the STEM industry. We want them to inspired by such an incredibly exciting project on their doorstep.
"We're eight years in to the project now and we're at the most exciting bit which is the countdown to launch".
The partnership between the UK and the US is the first of it's kind, seeing the potential for boosted opportunities in the United Kingdom, headed up in Cornwall. It came as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg signed a declaration on Wednesday 11 May to work together on future commercial spaceflight missions.
It's set to see future spaceflight being made more accessible, easier and cheaper more streamlined operations with close collaboration between the two countries when licensing commercial space launches.
Transport Secretary Grant 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 seven 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".
In 2020, UK space-related organisations produced £16.5 billion in income, supporting around 47,000 jobs. Signing a new declaration has put Cornwall and the UK at the forefront of space activity, laying the foundation for other space travel, including rockets and spaceplanes, to launch from Britain, as well as further job openings in the Duchy.
US Transportation Secretary Pete 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".
Dan Hart, CEO for Virgin Orbit, said: “This agreement between the U.S. and the U.K. will accelerate collaboration across all sectors of spaceflight. As the Virgin Orbit team prepares for a space launch from Cornwall, compatibility between regulations can be a key enabler.
"We are grateful to Secretary of State Grant Shapps and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for their vision and leadership, and we are committed to doing our part by conducting the first ever launch from the U.K. later this year with a wonderful mix of payloads from our two countries".
Joanne Wheeler MBE, UKspace Co-Chair of the Launch Industry Group (LIG), said: “UKspace welcomes this landmark agreement between the UK and the US working towards reducing duplication between the two countries for licensing of commercial space activities, reducing costs and streamlining procedures while maintaining robust safety standards.
“The partnership reflects the collaboration between both countries on commercial spaceflight missions as the UK prepares for the first launch from UK soil later this year from Spaceport Cornwall. This will also support the UK space and launch industry more generally as it continues to thrive".