Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK Space Agency grants for horizontal launch applications for small satellite launch programmes have been made; and what plans they have, if any, to provide additional grants for such programmes in the future.
On 4 June 2019, the UK Space Agency announced its intention to award up to £7.85 million, subject to business case, to Spaceport Cornwall and US operator Virgin Orbit to develop facilities and operational capabilities that would enable small satellite launch from Cornwall in the early 2020s.
In May 2019, the UK Space Agency also opened a £2 million Horizontal Spaceport Development Fund to assist future horizontal spaceports with their plans for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight. The deadline for applications closed on 17 July, and the UK Space Agency is currently reviewing submitted proposals. Grant awards will be announced in due course.