Branson’s plans for Christmas space launch dashed by tech glitch

SIR RICHARD BRANSON’S dreams of masterminding Britain’s first space mission have suffered a setback after Virgin Orbit’s planned launch was postponed because of a technical glitch.

The entrepreneur had hoped to launch from Cornwall before Christmas after a series of false starts earlier this year.

A possible launch next week had been mooted, but Virgin Orbit chief executive Dan Hart yesterday revealed that difficulties meant the launch would be pushed back.

He said: “With licences still outstanding for the launch itself and for the satellites within the payload, additional technical work needed to establish system health and readiness, and a very limited available launch window of only two days, we have determined that it is prudent to retarget launch for the coming weeks to allow ourselves and our stakeholders time to pave the way for full mission success.”

The remarks triggered a rebuke by Britain’s space regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Tim Johnson, director for space regulation at the CAA, said: “The UK space regulation process is not a barrier to a UK space launch.

“Virgin Orbit has said in its statement that there are some technical issues that will need to be resolved before launch. These in no way relate to the timing of when a licence will be issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.

“Effective licensing forms an integral part of UK space activity. Spaceport Cornwall’s licence already permits Virgin Orbit to undertake its testing programme prior to launch. Our dedicated team has been working closely with all partners to assess applications and issue the remaining licences within the timelines we set at the outset.

“We continue to work with Virgin Orbit, and other stakeholders, to play our part in delivering a safe UK launch.”

Initially scheduled for an early summer launch to coincide with the late Queen Elizabeth II’S Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It was then pushed back to September and delayed further until November.

Sir Richard let slip some of his frustration about the delays during an interview with The Telegraph in November. “I can’t talk how I’d like to talk,” he said, adding that “bureaucracy ... can take time.”

Virgin Orbit plans to fly a converted Boeing 747, called Cosmic Girl, from Spaceport Cornwall to a height of 35,000ft above the ocean, before a rocket, Launcherone, is dropped from under its wing and blasts into orbit. A launch from British soil would come more than 50 years after the Britishmade Black Arrow rocket reached orbit from the Australian outback.

A two-hour window of between 10.16pm and 11.45pm on Dec 14 had been identified on Wednesday in an official announcement to the aviation industry.

Mr Hart said: “All stakeholders continue to drive in a coordinated effort towards a historic milestone, which will soon establish the UK as the first nation with the capability to launch to orbit from western Europe.”