Branson to launch 17 rockets from Cornwall

SIR RICHARD BRANSON’S Virgin Orbit is planning to launch up to 17 rockets from Cornwall by the end of the decade as it sets a blast-off date for its UK space operations.

US company Virgin Orbit, which launches rockets into space from under the wing of a Boeing 747, is hoping to fire its Launcher One rocket from Newquay in Cornwall as soon as Sept 29, according to filings with regulators.

The company has applied for a launch window of between Sept 29 and Dec 28. It told marine authorities that a three-day window at the end of September was its “primary” launch slot, between 10pm and midnight.

Its Boeing 747, named “Cosmic Girl”, would take off from Newquay and fly out over the sea. Reaching 35,000ft off the south coast of Ireland, it would drop the unmanned rockets from under its wings, which would fall for five seconds before igniting and blasting into orbit.

The first launch will include multiple “cube” satellites, including from Welsh company Space Forge, a start-up that is hoping to develop factories in space, as well as a Ministry of Defence mission.

Virgin Orbit said its programme would include one launch this year with plans to double the number of missions from next year.

To launch, Virgin Orbit must secure a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority, which manages UK space operations. Britain first developed a satellite launch programme in the 1960s and 1970s, called Black Arrow. The rocket only performed one satellite launch from the Australian outback before the programme was cancelled.

In the last five years, however, plans for Uk-based rocket launches have gathered pace. In 2019, Virgin Orbit secured a grant from the Government to develop a launch programme for Cornwall. Other rocket initiatives include Scottish company Skyrora, which is planning to launch microsatellites from Scotland next year.

Lockheed Martin, Orbex and Astraius are all also planning launch programmes for Scotland.

Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit’s chief executive, said: “Given that our rocket flight occurs many miles from land and high in the atmosphere, we can perform a space launch while preserving the surrounding environment at the spaceport.”