Engineering news
The launch provider’s carrier aircraft, ground support equipment and rocket are departing from California following the first round of ‘wet’ dress rehearsals, heading to Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay.
The spaceport’s first launch, due to take place in November, will be a joint mission between the US and UK governments, launched by Virgin Orbit, the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) and UK Space Command. Named Start Me Up after a Rolling Stones song, the mission will include many firsts: the first orbital launch from the UK; the first international launch for Virgin Orbit; and the first commercial launch from Western Europe.
The first hardware is due to arrive today (11 October), with the ground support equipment and rocket following later this week.
Unlike other planned UK spaceports and rocket companies, Virgin missions from Cornwall will offer horizontal launches, enabling trajectories that would be impossible for vertical launches. During launches, the LauncherOne rocket will initially be carried by the modified 747 Cosmic Girl, before being released and propelling itself towards orbit.
“What an incredible honour it is for us to be part of something as monumental as bringing Britain into the business of launch,” said Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit. “Working with our partners across the UK government, we’re starting up a new capability that will serve the people, the economy, and the security of the UK.”
Science minister Nusrat Ghani said: “As we move ever closer to the first satellite launch from UK soil, it’s excellent to see the progress being made by Virgin Orbit, Spaceport Cornwall and those across government in delivering this historic mission, the first of its kind in Europe.
“With 47,000 jobs across the UK, our growing space industry is a vital part of the economy and has an important role to play in catalysing investment, generating growth and prosperity. I’m looking forward to working with this innovative sector and delivering on our National Space Strategy.”
The launch will carry payloads from seven global customers, both private companies and government agencies. The manifest includes ForgeStar-0, a ‘returnable and reusable’ satellite offering in-space manufacturing, developed by Space Forge in Wales. The launch will be the first for the ForgeStar platform, and will test future returns from space.
Other satellites travelling on the mission cover a wide range of applications, including the prevention of illegal trafficking, smuggling, and terrorism.
“The completion of the fuelling and pressurisation dress rehearsals in the USA, and the announcement of the mission name and manifest, has started countdown to launch from the UK,” said air vice-marshal Paul Godfrey, commander at UK Space Command.
“I’ve seen firsthand the hard work and collaboration that has gone into making this happen, and we can now look forward to Virgin Orbit’s arrival in Cornwall. The very first space launch, carrying government and industry satellite payloads, marks Start Me Up as a historic moment for the United Kingdom.
“Developing new launch capabilities will build on the strengths of our space sector and attract companies from around the world to benefit from these commercial opportunities. This will catalyse investment, bring new jobs to communities and organisations right across the UK, as well as inspiring the next generation of space scientists and engineers.”