MP ‘mystified’ by comments about UK space flights
Virgin Galactic boss says law will have to be changed for air base to be used
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Moray MP Angus Robertson last night said he was “mystified” by Virgin Galactic’s claims that British laws must be changed before Moray can be considered as Europe’s international space station base.
The company plans to offer space tourism flights to the paying public within five years and Lossiemouth’s RAF base is their first UK choice as a spaceport.
Virgin Galactic’s president Will Whitehorn this weekend warned Britain “has no legislation to allow us to fly here – there is no regulatory authority”.
He confirmed locations in Sweden were also being considered as bases for Virgin's European operations.
He added: “The Outer Space Act, which Britain created in 1986, didn't really envisage a system like this.
“It didn't envisage there would ever be space launches in the UK so there's no regulator, no insurance, no reliability or structure.”
A spokeswoman for the UK Government’s Department for Business and Skills, said they had been in talks with Virgin to understand their requirements.
She said the department would also be in discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority.
“At this stage no decisions have been made, but the government is determined to help where we can,” she said.
Responding to Mr Whitehorn’s claims last night, Mr Robertson said: “I’m mystified.”
He said he had researched the issue at the House of Commons library and had met with Lord Drayson, the UK’s science minister.
Mr Robertson said: “He told me that he did not see there being any legal impediments to commercial space flight.”
Mr Robertson added that he was confident, however, that any existing challenges would not be “insurmountable”.
He said: “I am delighted that Virgin Galactic was still optimistic about commercial space flight from RAF Lossiemouth. The base offers excellent facilities for this new generation of exciting technology.
“I will be following up William Whitehead’s comments with him and UK Government ministers to ensure that there are no legal impediments to the project.”
Allan Wright, Moray Council’s depute convener and councillor for Heldon and Laich, said: “I am unaware of any such restrictions – not that I am doubting what Mr Whitehorn is saying.
“And I would join with those that seek to have amended legislation to allow Lossiemouth an equal chance of securing the launch base.
“This would be enormous. It would put Lossiemouth on the international map. It may well already be there because of the base but it would be a tremendous fillip to the economic development of Moray.”
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