Race for the spaceports

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 17

Race for the spaceports

An international battle is building up over plans to build a spaceport near the equator, writes Alastair Matheson in the “Observer” newspaper.

Several countries want to take advantage of the “slingshot”, effect, by which the spinning Earth’s momentum — greatest at the equator — gives an extra boost to a rocket. Reaching orbit from present launching sites in the United States or Soviet Union needs much additional fuel, and so cuts down on cargo capacity. European nations already make good use of their launch pad in French Guiana, 5 degrees north of the equator, while the United States has teamed up with Italy to use a site in Kenya. In addition, Indonesia is developing Gag Island, off West Irian, on the equator, and Kiribati in the Pacific has plans for its own site. Even Brazil is establishing a spaceport near the equator.

However, Australia’s plans are the most ambitious. The Federal Government is studying the construction of a spaceport in north Queensland, where the Cape York Peninsula reaches to within 11 degrees of the equator. It has also set up the Cape York Space Agency (C.Y.S.A.) as a consortium embracing American, British, Japanese and Australian private companies. Cape York provides an almost population-free flight path far into the Pacific for spacecraft orbiting the equator. Forecasts indicate large profits could be made from fees charged for launching foreign spaceships, especially profitable weather and communications satellites. Although some environmentalists and Aboriginal interests disagree, the Government ’ believes there will only be minimal disruption from a “space city” for 3000 people, plus a 10km runway and launching ramps within a 50km radius.