Goonhilly Earth Station will set out its ambition to be at the centre of the UK's commercial spaceflight industry when it joins a major UK Space Agency conference in London tomorrow.

A delegation led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership will be outlining why they believe Cornwall is ideally placed for commercial space operators to put small satellites into orbit, and offer sub-orbital spaceplane flights for science and tourism.

Along with Cornwall Airport Newquay, which has one of the UK's longest runways and uncongested airspace, Goonhilly is at the centre of the bid thanks to its satellite operation, command and control, and space vehicle tracking capabilities.

The intention is to bid for a share of a £10 million government fund announced this month to secure Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport Newquay, offering low-cost access to space and new launch capability for the UK by 2020.

In the meantime Goonhilly is continuing to invest in upgrading its operations, including deep space communications ability.

The Cornwall delegation will be speaking at an all-day UK Space Agency conference at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London called Launch UK: Igniting the UK’s new space age.

The event will bring together potential UK spaceports, spaceflight vehicle operators and the wider UK space manufacturing sector to discuss progress being made towards small-satellite launch and sub-orbital flights in the UK.

It will include a keynote address from Science Minister Jo Johnson who will outline the government’s ambitions for the UK to have a greater share of the commercial spaceflight market, worth an estimated £25 billion over the next 20 years.

Ministers have also confirmed that a Spaceflight Bill will be published later this year that will pave the way for the creation of UK spaceports, including rules and regulations for operators, such as safety and insurance measures.

Also addressing the conference is Ian Jones, chairman of the South West Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence based at Goonhilly - one of five UK regional centres set up to promote links between universities and businesses.

Ian, who is also chief executive of Goonhilly Earth Station, said being at the centre of this new industry would be a "significant" boost to the county's economy, adding: "This is Cornwall’s and the UK’s opportunity to participate in a £25 billion industry, and in a sector that’s increasingly important in our lives.

“We all use space-related data on a daily basis without even thinking about it. Spaceport will allow the UK to benefit more from being a provider of that data and those services rather than just a consumer. It’s essential that young people know that there are great career opportunities here and they will be the ones designing and developing new systems and space application businesses.”

Proposals to establish UK spaceports must be submitted to the UK Space Agency by April 15 this year.