HUNDREDS of jobs will be created in Scotland following the approval of plans by the UK Government for Lockheed Martin to transfer its satellite launch operations to Shetland.
By 2024, the Shetland Space Centre site could support a total of 605 jobs in Scotland, including 140 locally and 210 across the wider region. A further 150 jobs will also be created through wider manufacturing and support services.
Following a thorough process of due diligence, the UK Space Agency has confirmed that Lockheed Martin’s plans to move its UK Pathfinder Launch to the site at Lamba Ness on Unst would continue to deliver long-term value and help establish a sustainable, commercial launch market as part of the UK’s spaceflight programme – LaunchUK.
READ MORE: Full approval granted for spaceport in the Scottish Highlands
Lockheed Martin is in discussions with a preferred partner to provide launch services for its UK Pathfinder Launch.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “The Shetland Space Centre is a huge step forward for our ambitious UK Spaceflight programme.”
An assessment of the Spaceport Sutherland site reported in 2019 that the site is due to create more than 60 high-skilled jobs in Sutherland and Caithness and 250 jobs in the wider area.
Ivan McKee, Scottish Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation said: “This is an extremely exciting time for the emerging space sector globally, and Scotland is situated at the very forefront of this.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel