From Cornwall to orbital
The first UK space launch will depart not from a launch pad, but a runway
Based at Newquay Airport, Spaceport Cornwall is able to host horizontal launches, which involve a carrier aircraft taking off from a runway to reach the desired launch altitude and releasing a rocket in mid-air. Virgin Orbit’s modified Boeing 747, called Cosmic Girl, will release the LauncherOne rocket at an altitude of around 35,000 feet (10,700 metres). The system can transport up to 300kg of cargo into orbit.
The ‘Start Me Up’ mission from Spaceport Cornwall is due to launch by the end of 2022, and was granted a licence to fly by the Civil Aviation Authority on
16 November, though a launch date was yet to be announced at time of writing. It will deploy seven payloads into low-Earth orbit. These will be a range of satellites, with five from the UK, including the IOD-3 Amber satellite developed by the Satellite Applications Catapult and Horizon Technologies, and built by AAC Clyde Space. It is the first of more than 20 satellites that will be in the Amber constellation, designed to provide governments and customers with maritime data to help combat problems like illegal fishing, smuggling and trafficking.
Notably, among the UK payloads is the test launch of the world’s first returnable and reusable space-manufacturing platform, called ForgeStar-0. Made by Welsh company Space Forge, this platform eventually aims to harness space to make materials off-Earth in microgravity conditions.
Also on board, in another first, is the Sultanate of Oman’s first-ever satellite, AMAN, for Earth observation. A further Polish satellite is also to be deployed as part of SatRev’s STORK constellation for Earth observation.