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Scotland has been chosen as the site for the UK’s first spaceport.

The prospect of adventurous Brits checking in for out-of-this-world trips will take a step closer with the Business Secretary Greg Clark announcing ­that Sutherland has been picked for the project.

The site will initially host rocket and satellite launches but commercial passenger travel could then follow.

Clark will say during a speech at this week’s ­Farnborough Air Show that this marks the start of a “new British Space Age”.

He will add that the ­spaceflight market could be worth £4billion to the UK economy over the next 10 years.

Sutherland beat ­competition from ­Prestwick in Ayrshire, Unst in the ­Shetland Islands and Newquay airport, Cornwall.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The spaceport will ­provide the infrastructure needed for space tourism, though a ­regulatory ­framework for passenger trips has yet to be created.

The space industry Bill cleared its House of ­Commons stages in March, paving the way for the ­spaceport. Transport ­Minister Jo Johnson said: “This puts us at the forefront of the new space race.

“It helps us to compete as the destination of choice for satellite companies ­worldwide.”

Nearly a fifth of the UK’s space industry are based in Scotland and Glasgow builds more satellites than any other city in Europe.

A consortium submitted a proposal for Sutherland to the UK Space Agency, saying the A’Mhoine peninsular was ideal for launching ­satellites into orbit.

They expect to be able to collar business from the military, Government and private sectors.

SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford said: “Launches are currently carried out from Kazakhstan.

“Easy launch access from Scotland would ­benefit the commercial satellite ­industry right across the UK.”

The move is backed by the specialist technical staff union Prospect and GMB and Unite.

And Clark hopes Britain’s share of the global space economy will increase from 6.5 per cent now to 10 per cent by 2030.