PASSENGERS could be blasting off to space from Scotland with Prestwick Airport still in the running to be the UK's first spaceport.

The Ayrshire airport is one of five shortlisted sites for the spaceport which would launch satellites and commercial space flights.

Airport bosses said Prestwick was the ideal location for the spaceport which would be the country's centre for space technology and home to many hi-tech companies in science and research.

The spaceport is one of the ideas for Prestwick's future after the Scottish Government bought it for £1 to save it from closure and has plans to invest tens of millions in loans before selling to back to the private sector and recoup the loan cash.

Iain Cochrane, Chief Executive of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: "Prestwick Airport has been a pioneer of the UK aerospace industry and aviation since its foundation in 1935.

"I believe Prestwick offers the perfect conditions for space launches and our extensive developed concrete airfield and 3km runway provide the facilities needed for all types of re-usable spacecraft in development."

Later this year a detailed technical specification of spaceport requirements will be published before the government invites proposals from the shortlisted sites.

As well as launching satellites the spaceport will be the operating base for manned flights into space using reusable space craft such as those being developed by Virgin Galactic and XCOR.

The idea is also for the spaceport to develop into a major hub for companies involved in the space industry bringing high paid jobs and investment to the successful location

The UK Government said the spaceport could be worth hundreds of billions of pounds over the next 15 years.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:"Paving the way for a national spaceport is one of our biggest science achievements in this parliament. It greatly underscores the work of our space innovation and growth strategy to position the UK as a world-leader in this exciting arena that is expected to be worth up to £400 billion a year to the global economy by 2030.

"Launching satellites and operating commercial space flights from our shores was once only confined to the depths of science fiction, but with the results of this consultation we are one step closer to making this a very real ability in the near future."

Other sites in Scotland and the UK are being considered.

The Department for Transport said Campbeltown and Stornoway as well as Newquay in England and Llanbedr in Wales were on the final shortlist along with Prestwick for consideration.