A decision whether Stornoway will be selected to launch Britain’s first spaceport is due soon.
A Department for Transport consultation is considering the Western Isles amongst seven other possible locations.
The aim is to have a facility ready for space tourism by 2018.
Launching satellites would be another business at the aerodrome.
Competition between the rival areas is fierce.
Greg Clark, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, said the announcement would be made soon.
He said transport and defence ministers met over the issue in recent days.
Mr Clark added: “They are both part of the cross-
“The government has undertaken a public consultation on the eight potential locations and the criteria that will be used to select the location of a UK spaceport.
“A response to this consultation will be published shortly."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) "strongly recommended" that a UK spaceport be established at a coastal location.
However, a site with little cloud cover and favourable weather conditions is much preferred so space tourists can view Earth from above.
By 2030, the wider UK space industry estimated to be worth £40 billion and provide 100,000 jobs.
By catching the “first wave” of space travel, the hope is to become a leading European
centre which could entice the likes of Richard Branson -
Specialist American operator XCor is developing its two-
In addition to Stornoway, the other coastal locations that could be used for a spaceport include airports at Campbeltown, Prestwick, Kinloss, Leuchars, Lossiemouth as well as Cornwall in England and Llanbedr Airport in Wales.
The CAA report said: “Several operators have indicated that their spaceplanes will be ready to commence operations within the next five to ten years; several have also indicated their desire to operate from the UK.”
New legislation is also needed to deal with the emerging industry. Present laws do not address spaceplanes so they would be classified as ‘experimental aircraft.’
Stornoway spaceport report due soon
18 February 2015