Satellites could soon be launched into space from Snowdonia. B2Space and Snowdonia Aerospace Centre want to create 93 specialist jobs at Llanbedr airfield, Gwynedd. The number is based on it launching 30 satellites a year by 2020 for purposes including tracking changes to the environment and coastlines.
The former military airfield is also one of eight shortlisted by the UK government to launch commercial space flights. B2Space's Valentin Canales said about 3,000 micro satellites will need launching in the next five years as we "use space in a way that hasn't been considered before". His firm and the aerospace centre have bid for grants totalling £10m to make the field, near Harlech, a key UK site for this. Other possible uses for them include providing communications to remote areas or for natural disaster management.
The satellites will be launched from a stratospheric balloon with a self-operative platform. A three-stage rocket will then deliver them to the required orbits.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-40855358
"Where to's my satellite, Dafydd ?"
ReplyDelete"It's up over by there, boyo !"
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