‘Feeling awful, to be honest’: UK space ambitions stumble after Virgin launch fails

Key points

• The first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from the UK ended in failure.
• US-based Virgin Orbit attempted to use a modified jumbo jet to carry one of its rockets from Cornwall into space.
• The plane released the rocket, carrying nine small satellites, but they were all destroyed. 
• “We’re feeling awful, to be honest – I’m not going to lie,” said Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall.

London: British officials and space scientists said they were disappointed but not deterred after the first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from the UK ended in failure.

US-based Virgin Orbit attempted its first international launch late on Monday, using a modified jumbo jet to carry one of its rockets from Cornwall in southwestern England over the Atlantic Ocean.

Spectators watch on a big screen at Cornwall Airport Newquay as the LauncherOne rocket is launched from Cosmic Girl, in Newquay, United Kingdom. Credit:Getty

The plane released the rocket, carrying nine small satellites for a mix of civilian and domestic uses. But about two hours after the plane took off, the company reported “an anomaly that has prevented us from reaching orbit”.

The plane, piloted by a Royal Air Force pilot, returned to Cornwall. The rocket and satellites were destroyed.

“We’re feeling awful, to be honest – I’m not going to lie,” Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, said on Tuesday.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve been knocked, this is the biggest definitely, but I feel OK and we’ll get up and we’ll go again,” she said.

Cosmic Girl, the 747 aircraft carrying the LauncherOne rocket under its left wing, takes off from Cornwall Airport.Credit:Getty

Virgin Orbit, which was founded by British transport and telecommunications tycoon Richard Branson, previously completed four similar launches from California.

Hundreds of people gathered for the Cornwall launch had cheered when a repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft, named Cosmic Girl, took off late on Monday.

Around an hour into the flight, the plane released the rocket at around 35,000 feet (around 10,000 meters) over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland.

“We’re feeling awful”: Melissa Thorpe, Head of Spaceport Cornwall.Credit:Getty

Virgin Orbit chief executive Dan Hart said “a technical failure appears to have prevented us from delivering the final orbit.”

“While we are very proud of the many things that we have successfully achieved as part of this mission, we are mindful that we failed to provide our customers with the launch service they deserve,” he said.

The mission was a collaboration between the UK Space Agency, the Royal Air Force, Virgin Orbit and Cornwall Council.

Britain hopes to become a major player in making and launching satellites, and is building a spaceport in the Shetland Islands north of Scotland as well as the one in Cornwall.

UK Business Secretary Grant Shapps said Monday’s launch was “a big moment” despite its failure.

“Space is difficult,” Shapps told Sky News.

“It didn’t work. I’ve no doubt that they’ll pick themselves up, dust themselves off and they’ll go again once they find out what exactly went wrong with it,” he said.

AP

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