The prospect of a “historic” space flight taking off from Cornwall at the start of the new year has taken a major step forward after the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority granted the project a launch licence.
Virgin Orbit will begin final preparations for the first satellite launch from UK territory, although no final launch date has been set.
There is growing frustration within the project that the licensing process has delayed the long-awaited launch. But on Wednesday, the CAA said Virgin Orbit had demonstrated it had taken “all reasonable steps” to ensure the launch was as safe as possible and met “appropriate security and environmental requirements”.
Virgin Orbit has also received its range control license from the CAA, which allows it to issue warning notices to keep people away from danger areas and monitor mission progress.
A converted Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, dubbed Cosmic Girl, fitted with a rocket that will propel nine satellites into orbit, has been waiting at Cornwall Spaceport for the go-ahead from the regulator since October.
When it eventually takes off, the plane will take off from the spaceport, which is based at Cornwall Newquay Airport, and rise to 35,000 feet (10,700 meters) above the Atlantic Ocean and launch the LauncherOne rocket that will send the satellites into orbit.
The CAA said it issued the licenses within 15 months, which it said compared to the time frame followed by international space regulators.
Tim Johnson, director of space regulation at the CAA, said: “With public safety at the heart of our decision-making, we have worked with Virgin Orbit to assess their applications and issue licenses within the timescales we expect.”
Dan Hart, chief executive of Virgin Orbit, said: “Receiving the range and launch licenses takes us one step closer to the first satellite launch from UK soil. We are progressing towards the first launch from Cornwall – keeping a strong focus on a safe and successful mission for all.”
Local politicians and leaders hope the mission, named Start Me Up after the Rolling Stones song, will give Cornwall’s growing space industry a boost.
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The launch is likely to take place in the middle of the night and will be streamed live.
Melissa Thorpe, Head of Spaceport Cornwall, said: “We are thrilled to have Virgin Orbit licenses for this historic launch. My team can’t wait to share the excitement of the upcoming launch with everyone who has done it.”
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