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Virgin Orbit’s rocket, LauncherOne, is set to become the first spacecraft to take off from the UK when it departs from the Cornwall spaceport in November.
The U.S.-built rocket was transferred to Cornwall earlier this month and attached to a modified Boeing 747 “Cosmic Girl” in situ rather than overboard.
In further good news for the UK aerospace industry, the UK government has announced a £15m investment fund for the satellite communications sector.
LauncherOne is funded by the British Space Agency based in Swindon. Dubbed “Start Me Up,” the mission will deliver a total of seven payloads to low earth orbit.
Spaceport Cornwall will be the epicenter of the UK space sector to launch the first in any country, while seven UK spaceports are under development. About 50,000 people are employed in this sector nationwide. When the Cornwall factory is fully operational, it is estimated that 150 jobs will be created.
The Virgin Orbit team is working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Royal Air Force (RAF) and Spaceport Cornwall to finalize the details of the horizontal launch.
LauncherOne takes to the skies and is initially carried by Cosmic Girl to an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet, where the rocket deploys.
Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said:
“We are working with partners across the UK government to launch new capabilities that will benefit the people, economy and security of the UK.”
Melissa Thorpe, Head of Spaceport Cornwall, said:
“Once we see the infrastructure in place, our launch ambitions will become a reality.We can’t wait to bring our planet-beneficial satellite technology into low-Earth orbit and see our rockets take to the skies soon. I can’t.”
This is also the first commercial launch from Europe, and a full-scale replica of LauncherOne is also making headlines in London. A 22-meter replica was displayed outside the National Science Museum to highlight the achievements of the UK space industry.
read more – Oxford scientists secure £122m research grant
The payload aboard Start Me Up features the first-ever satellite launched by the State of Oman focused on Earth observation. Future-proof return satellite technology on board the first Welsh satellite built by Space Forge. A maritime surveillance payload built by Horizon Technologies and the Satellite Applications Catapult. So are MOD, DSTL, and US National Reconnaissance Service satellites.
Ian Annette, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: Law and Other Fields. ”
A report carried out by Technopolis and released this week, ‘Evaluating the impact of the UK’s investment in the European Space Agency’, concluded that every £1 invested would return £11.80 to the UK economy. The UK agreed to invest £374m a year in her ESA in 2019 over her five years.
At the launch of the report, Science Minister Nusrat Ghani announced a new £15m UK investment fund for the satellite communications sector. The minister said the funds will be distributed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to companies developing ambitious satellite technologies that prioritize customer needs, support sustainable growth and encourage further investment. Confirmed.
Minister said:
We are also making new funding to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in the satellite communications market and look forward to seeing the outcome of the competition. ”
read more – UK government ignores scientific needs, claims report from Readings Ridge and Partners
Main image LauncherOne and “Cosmic Girl” Image credit Virgin Orbit
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