US rockets firm could take over mothballed Highland spaceport

HIE and Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn have welcomed the agreement.The site is on Melness Crofters Estate, an area of small-scale farms on the A' Mhoine Peninsula in Sutherland in the north-west Highlands.Chairwoman Dorothy Pritchard said the estate was delighted to welcome Leap as a potential launch operator.She said: "We believe their presence here will be an important step towards establishing a thriving and sustainable spaceport that can bring long-term benefits to Sutherland and the UK's growing space industry. "Alongside other UK launch sites, both developed and emerging, an operational Sutherland Spaceport will become an integral part of a resilient and diverse UK launch ecosystem, securing the UK position within the global space economy, something we welcome and support. "Melness Crofters Estate looks forward to seeing the spaceport become a driver of economic opportunity."