An artist's impression image of the proposed spaceport at Machrihanish. Picture: Contributed

09:46 Tuesday 20 June 2017

A space flight bill to be included in the Queens Speech could see Scotland become a thriving hub for the industry, according to the secretary of state for Scotland.

New powers would see the launch of satellites from the UK for the first time, horizontal flights to the edge of space for scientific experiments and the creation of spaceports across the UK.

A number of Scottish sites have expressed an interest in the project, including Prestwick, Machrihanish and Stornoway.

READ MORE: Campbeltown spaceport moves a step closer to reality

Scottish secretary David Mundell said: This new legislation on space ports will be a giant leap forward for Scotlands ambitious space and satellite sector. It will give each of our potential spaceports a fantastic opportunity to establish Scotland as a thriving hub for commercial spaceflight.

By capitalising on our existing scientific expertise, a Scottish spaceport would create new, skilled jobs and drive economic growth.

200 Voices: find out more about the people who have shaped Scotland

More than 38,000 jobs rely on the UKs space industry, which is worth 13.7 billion to the economy. The global market for launching satellites is estimated to be 25bn over the next 20 years.

READ MORE: First Prestwick space flights predicted for 2019

New powers would be given for a wide range of new spaceflight, including vertically-launched rockets, spaceplanes, satellite operation, spaceports and other technologies.

It would take the UK into the commercial space age by enabling small satellite launch and spaceflight from UK spaceports. And it will create new opportunities for the UKs scientific community to carry out research in a microgravity environment by giving British scientists easier access.

The legislation comes as part of a series of bills aimed at infrastructure.

Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing for the Queens Speech tomorrow but has not yet struck a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to prop up her minority government. The event sets out the Prime Ministers legislative plans for the coming year.

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Space flight bill could create 'thriving hub' in Scotland - The Scotsman - The Scotsman