The Spaceport Cornwall, based in the United Kingdom, has been issued a license by the national authority and is now ready to conduct the first Virgin Orbit launch from outside of the United States.
As per Space.com's report, this will be the first orbital liftoff from European land.
Spaceport Cornwall
The first British orbital launch will occur at Spaceport Cornwall, a repurposed airfield in southwest England.
The airport in Newquay on the British west coast was granted a spaceport license by the UK Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday, Nov. 16. This was after it demonstrated compliance with "statutory requirements on safety, security, environment and other aspects," based on a statement released by the UK Space Agency.
Horizontal space launches, in which an aircraft serves as the rocket's first stage before it is released high above the Earth's densest layer of the atmosphere, can now be carried out from the mentioned spaceport.
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Virgin Orbit
The highly anticipated launch at the mentioned spaceport is the first step toward the UK's goal of becoming a premier location for microsatellite liftoffs. Virgin Orbit has begun the necessary "wet dress" rehearsal in preparation.
According to Space.com, four earlier missions by Virgin Orbit from Southern California's Mojave Air and Space Port successfully delivered dozens of small satellites into low Earth orbit for a wide range of clients.
The next wet dress rehearsal will consist of the firm running through the whole pre-launch routine, including fueling and the countdown, except for the actual lift and launch.
"The first-ever spaceport license granted by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority is another major milestone as we look forward to the first satellite launch from U.K. soil this year," said Ian Annett, deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency.
He also acknowledged the efforts of their partners in government and business who have worked tirelessly to get them to this extreme, making their launch ambitions a reality.
"Start Me up" Mission
During its first mission in the U.K., which will be called "Start Me Up" after a popular song by the British band Rolling Stones, Virgin Orbit will launch several small satellites into low Earth orbit.
These satellites will include an in-orbit manufacturing experiment for the UK's military.
Melissa Thorpe, the head of Spaceport Cornwall, pointed out that it is a historic time for them as the first spaceport in the UK.
She expressed their aim to support the industry in the UK as it works to harness the potential of space to enhance life on Earth.
UK's Goal
The UK hopes to become a dominant force in the market for launching small satellites, Space.com reported.
The northern coast of Scotland and the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland are the two other locations waiting for authorization to launch lightweight vertical rockets.
Both UK-based Orbex and Skyrora are working hard to finish up the development of their compact satellite rockets in preparation for their first flights, perhaps in 2023.
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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada
