IT USED to be the stuff of science fiction, but now tourist trips to space are to be launched from Scotland, under new plans being considered by Sir Richard Branson’s company Virgin Galatic.

Last month the company directors announced that they would launch their first commercial flight into space in 2008 from New Mexico and have already attracted 167 bookings at a cost of £115,000 per person.

A number of celebrities including Sigourney Weaver, star of the Alien films, Paris Hilton, the socialite, and Victoria Principal, the former star of Dallas, the TV soap opera, have bought tickets for the flight — described as a reverse bungee. Professor Stephen Hawking has also expressed an interest.

Now Will Whitehorn, the Edinburgh-born director of Virgin Galatic claims it is “very likely” that the company will build a spaceport in Scotland, similar to that being developed in New Mexico at a cost of £129m.

As well as guaranteeing spectacular views, the open spaces and lack of air traffic would make Scotland the perfect choice for a launch pad according to Whitehorn, who claims Lapland is the only alternative European base for the company.

“It’s very likely that we will operate from northern Scotland in the future,” he said. “It’s an interesting location. At 74 miles high you’d see the Highlands, the Northern Sea and Scotland’s very distinct outline. It would all be visible,” said Whitehorn.

“Scotland is one of only two suitable locations in Europe, the other being Lapland.

“They’re the only places with few over-flying aircraft, plenty of space and a small population. This allows for long runways. We’ll be planning a trip to Scotland at some point to look into it.”

In 2004 aviation designer Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne successfully flew more than 62 miles into space, sparking the interest of Branson, the British entrepreneur.

So far only 435 people have gone into space. Although the new space tourists will receive one week’s training, some experts have expressed safety concerns.

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