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Virgin Galactic to Launch from Scottish Base?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the scotch-and-liftoff-please dept.

Lancey writes "The BBC reports that Richard Branson wants to launch Virgin Galactic space flights from a Royal Air Force base in Moray, Scotland, as early as 2010." From the article: "We are designing it so that we will be able to tour it around the world. So we will have a main base in New Mexico and we are looking at three bases outside there to be able to operate from."

4 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What about the equator? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    ESA launches from French Guiana. Actually.

  2. Re:What about the equator? by tgd · · Score: 4, Informative

    Thats only if you're going to try to get into orbit easily.

    They're not trying to get into orbit.

  3. Nothing to see... by HaydnH · · Score: 3, Informative

    Nothing to see here... no really! It's a broken link! Here's a working link to the article.

    --
    Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. - Douglas Adams
  4. Lossiemouth is the perfect location! by dnnrly · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've been to good ol' Lossie. I think it's perfect! Takeoffs would occur over the bay which opens up to the North Sea. Lossiemouth itself isn't hugely populated but it does lie next door to the base. There is a housing estate right up to the fence on one side (with the local pub about 1 mile from the main entrance), all other sides are clear and the nearest large town is Elgin about 10 miles away.

    As long as they are careful to take off and land over the water I can't see many problems at all.