They wanted to launch rockets. The locals said no. 🚀🐑 We investigate the Space Hub Sutherland controversy, where a plan to build a satellite launch pad on a protected peat bog ignited a war with Highland crofters. We break down the clash between "Green Space" ambitions and the ancient rights of those who live on the land.

1. The "Peat" Problem: We analyze the ecology. The proposed site was on Flow Country—a massive peat bog that stores 400 million tonnes of carbon. We explain the irony of destroying a carbon sink to launch "environmental monitoring" satellites, and how this "Greenwashing" accusation fueled the opposition.

2. The Billionaire Factor: It’s not just about science; it’s about ego. We expose the rivalry between Anders Povlsen (Scotland's largest landowner) and the spaceport developers. We discuss how Povlsen used his wealth to fund legal challenges, turning a local planning dispute into a proxy war between conservation and commercial spaceflight.

3. The "Crofter" Rights: Who owns the view? We explore the legal battle. Crofters (small-scale tenant farmers) have unique legal rights in Scotland. We discuss how they used these ancient laws to stall a 21st-century infrastructure project, proving that local heritage can still block global ambition.

The full list of sources used to create this episode can be found on our Patreon under https://www.patreon.com/c/Morgrain