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Will Whitehorn, formerly the president of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, warned the UK must be able to launch rockets into space from its soil. He urged the Government to provide funding so the first launch from Spaceport Cornwall can take place in 2022.

UKspace is a trade association that represents the rapidly growing British space industry.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Whitehorn said: “I did talk quite a long time ago about forming a Royal Space Force and to some extent the beginnings of that are happening.

“The RAF, acting on behalf of the three services and the MOD [Ministry of Defence] generally, is going to have Space Command.

“It’s just opened at High Wycombe, the buildings having a lot of work done at the moment and they’re already staffing it up.”

The Government is increasing its focus on space and hopes a number of UK spaceports will begin operation in the coming years.

Its integrated defence review, published earlier this year, focused heavily on the future of space in warfare.

Mr Whitehorn argued the role of space is going to change dramatically.

He commented: “The military traditionally, particularly in the UK, has seen space as a place to garner information and communicate.

“Using satellites to coordinate what you do in the air with the RAF, at sea with the Royal Navy or on the ground with the army.

“Space is a coordinating space, a communicating place and an observation place.

“But space is going to become active. We are going to have space planes.”

Last year the Government brought a major stake in satellite company OneWeb, which is planning to fire hundreds of satellites into low orbit.

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Mr Whitehorn noted: “We’re going to have, in terms of British satellites, thousands and thousands up there soon and we have to be prepared to defend those assets.”

He added: “The clever thing to do is the ability to outgun your opposition in the number of satellites rather than try and shoot things down.

“These kind of ideas that we’re seeing, with missiles from the ground to shoot down satellites, I don’t think that’s where it’s going to happen.

“I think it’s going to be electronic weapons in space. Using lasers that will damage the other satellite’s ability to operate. Not destroying the satellite but destroying its brain.

Virgin Galactic space plane carries out test flight

“That’s where the ability to launch satellites, and have that sovereign capability, really comes into its own and that’s what I’d recommend to Government.”

Virgin Orbit plans to use Spaceport Cornwall to launch small satellites into space.

It will operate on a horizontal launch system, with a modified Boeing 747 flying the rocket over the sea where it will be launching into space.

According to Mr Whitehorn the first launch from Spaceport Cornwall could take place in 2022, though this may require Government support.

He explained: “There has to be a customer for the first launch.

“My feeling is that is the kind of investment the Government could help with, to allow a satellite to be launched from there in 2022 because Virgin Orbit are ready.

“That’s the role I think the Government should play in this – kickstarting.”
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