WALES’ spaceflight ambitions could be boosted by a slice of a new £2 million UK Government fund to bolster the country’s sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane potential.

Business Secretary Greg Clark today launched a Great British Space Age which will see the creation of a £2 million fund to boost horizontal launch spaceport sites across Britain including Llanbedr.

This initiative will be in addition to the development of a new spaceport at Sutherland on the north coast of Scotland for vertically launched space rockets and satellites.

He said: “As a nation of innovators and entrepreneurs, we want Britain to be the first place in mainland Europe to launch satellites.

"The UK’s thriving space industry, research community and aerospace supply chain put the country in a leading position to develop both vertical and horizontal launch sites.

“This will build on our global reputation for manufacturing small satellites and help the whole country capitalise on the huge potential of the commercial space age.”

Wales is already a centre of excellence for aerospace manufacturing and has the physical and intellectual infrastructure to support the growing space market.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “Wales now has an exciting window of opportunity to take a leading role in shaping that future.

"We have the right geography and a skilled engineering base in aerospace, electronics and the software industries, standing ready to diversify and to flourish in the fast-developing space market.

"The opportunities are vast, for Britain’s strategic capabilities and for Wales in terms of job creation, cross border synergies through the Northern Powerhouse, linking to our strong academic institutions and the potential economic impact.

"We must now stand ready to grasp them.”

The commercial space sector is estimated to be worth a potential £3.8 billion to the UK economy over the next decade and will support Britain’s modern Industrial Strategy by creating high skilled jobs and boosting local economies.

Llanbedr airport is currently used for general aviation, in the past has site for MOD research and development projects.