Virgin Orbit has been granted the first clearance to launch from Spaceport Cornwell, setting the stage for the first space mission from British soil.
After securing the necessary permits, the company plans to send off nine satellites in January 2023 using a LauncherOne rocket launched from its "Cosmic Girl" Boeing 747.
Exterior view of the Spaceport Cornwall facility on November 08, 2022 in Newquay, England. Virgin Orbit's carrier plane "Cosmic Girl," will be used to carry a rocket, named LauncherOne, under one of its wings which will then detach and journey on into the Earth's low orbit where it will release a number of small satellites. The launch, which is planned for next month, will be the first orbital launch from the UK.
Now, it's Ready to Launch
There has been a lot of anticipation for this launch since Virgin Orbit initially revealed ambitions to launch from Cornwall Airport Newquay four years ago.
Technical difficulties and a lack of a license caused the maiden flight to be delayed from its initial mid-December date.
Based on Engadget's report, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) assured the public that the license was awarded in under 15 months, despite the worries that this move is placing the UK framework in a competitive position with foreign space authorities.
The regulating body also said it had taken all necessary precautions to ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, last month, Spaceport Cornwall was given the green light to begin launching.
Virgin Orbit also has a range control license, which enables it to send warning notifications and keep tabs on the status of missions in flight. "Receiving range and launch licenses takes us one step closer to the first satellite launch take-off from UK soil," said Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit.
He said that as preparations for the first launch from Cornwall continue, the team is committed to ensuring everyone on board returns home safely.
LauncherOne is carried aloft by a 747 aircraft and deployed from the plane's underwing. This strategy reduces the rocket's size and fuel requirements and eliminates the necessity for a vertical launch platform.
To launch the satellites into orbit, the Cosmic Girl will take off from the spaceport, ascend to an altitude of 35,000 feet, and then unleash the LauncherOne rocket.
The nine satellites' permits have yet to be given, although they are said to be "imminent.
Virgin Orbit's inaugural mission in the UK is named "Start Me Up" after a Rolling Stones song. It will launch several small satellites into low Earth orbit. These satellites will incorporate a military in-orbit manufacturing test.
See Also: SpaceX May Begin Launching Next-Gen Starlink Satellites this December
UK's Ambition
As previously reported by Tech Times, the launch is the first stage in the UK's goal of establishing itself as a leading site for microsatellite take-offs from Spaceport Cornwall. The required "wet dress" rehearsal for Virgin Orbit has already commenced.
Reports indicate that Virgin Orbit has sent tiny satellites into low Earth orbit from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Southern California on four separate occasions.
UK Space Agency Deputy CEO Ian Annett stated, "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 UK soil this year."
He also thanked the government and commercial partners for their diligent efforts in getting them to this point and achieving their launch goals.
See Also: North Korea Set to Deploy Test Flight for its Spy Satellite by 2023
