Plans to send humans into space from Prestwick Airport were revealed last week as an £80 million investment was signed off for the transport hub.

Spaceport infrastructure is to be built at the airport under Ayrshire Growth Deal funding.

A document released by the UK Government yesterday said “human space flight”, satellite launches and gravity free flying will form part of Prestwick’s services.

Commenting on the Spaceport potential, South Ayrshire Council leader Peter Henderson said: “It is the future. We can do it ourselves.”

The Ayrshire Growth Deal document said: “The investment will be a catalyst to establishing Glasgow Prestwick Airport  as the leading horizontal launch Spaceport in Europe, providing a range of services including micro gravity flights, air launch of satellites, human space flight and hypersonic flight services.”

There is also to be a visitor centre and innovation hub.

Ian Annett, Deputy CEO, UK Space Agency said: “The deal will deliver another boost to the UK’s growing space sector by funding a range of new, cutting-edge aerospace activities around Glasgow Prestwick Airport, including development of the spaceport site.

“This will not only create highly-skilled jobs across the region but also further the UK’s reputation as Europe’s leading new space destination and bring us one step closer to small satellite launches taking place in the UK.”

The programme is funded to the tune of £32 million from the UK Government, £30 million from the Scottish Government, and £18 million from South Ayrshire Council.

Councillor Henderson added: “It has taken four years of work to get to this. It brings hopes of regeneration. “