Newquay Cornwall Ready For First Ever Satellite Launch From UK Soil

Sir Richard Branson’s US company Virgin Orbit successfully placed another seven spacecraft in orbit from California at the weekend and is now focused on moving operations to England.

“Everything now is about getting to Cornwall,” said Flt Lt Matthew “Stanny” Stannard, who piloted the latest mission and will be at the controls again when that first British launch occurs, probably in September.

Sir Richard’s firm has now flown four successful satellite missions, all from California’s Mojave spaceport.

But it has always been the Virgin Group entrepreneur’s intention to bring his rocket technology across the Atlantic.

Preparation work is proceeding apace at Newquay airport, with a control centre and satellite integration facility both in the process of being kitted out.

Already, the southwest of England is seeing something of an economic bounce from the expected Virgin Orbit operation at Newquay (a second launch is in the planning). Space start-ups are beginning to cluster in the region.

“This launch will be hugely important. The UK has a fantastic space sector, particularly in the small satellite market, but it’s missing a launch capability and we’re about to fill in that gap,” Flt Lt Stannard said.

“Space doesn’t always capture the imagination of school-aged children because it’s often intangible; you can’t see it.

“But they’ll be able to look over the fence, so to speak, to see a rocket and I think that will capture the imagination.”