The United Kingdom will build its first spaceport at A'Mhoine Peninsula in Sutherland on the northern coast of Scotland.

It has been chosen as the most suitable place from where rockets will be launched vertically to put satellites in orbit.

The UK Space Agency is giving 2.5 million pounds to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the development of the facility.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise will work closely with a consortium that includes the American aerospace giant Lockheed Martin to have launches as early as 2020.

A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft.