UK space launch – live updates: Virgin Orbit rocket blasting off from Spaceport Cornwall for first time | Science & Tech News

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  1. # UK space launch – live updates: Virgin Orbit rocket blasting off from Spaceport Cornwall for first time

    Cosmic Girl, a former Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, takes off from Spaceport Cornwall with the LauncherOne rocket under its wing. It is carrying a number of satellites, including ones made in Britain, into space. The launch window opens at **10.16pm**, watch live in the stream here from 9pm.

  2. Timings for the launch viewing event on Monday are as follows, although they are subject to change:

    • 7pm: Members of the public who have booked tickets to attend in person will begin arriving on site

    • 10.16pm to 11.16pm: Boeing 747 Cosmic Girl will take off horizontally, carrying the rocket

    • 10.54pm to 11.54pm: The rocket will be released

    • Midnight to 1am Tuesday: Cosmic Girl will return to base

    • 1.15am to 1.30pm Tuesday: Confirmation of the separation of the satellite from the rocket

    Cosmic Girl will fly west from Newquay before releasing LauncherOne over the sea.

    (source: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23237243.watch-first-uk-space-launch-cornwall-online-timings/)

  4. Anyone watching the Sky News YouTube live stream? It’s a bit weak! No HD video from the 747 cockpit, no detail about the payload, no shots from mission control…and my god Grant Schapps yammered on about nothing.

    Still, looking forward to watching them light the candle!

    Edit: you saw nothing. No video from the rocket or the plane. No idea where the rocket is now, or even if it’s intact, as the telemetry looks to have been dead for 20 mins or more.
    The control room looks like a driving exam centre or something.

  6. Hype. But anything that secures the future of the airport is vital. It has a long runway and is the first available runway for aircraft coming from the west if in difficulty.

  9. As soon as I saw it was launched from an aircraft I knew it would be a failure.
    Americas probably laughing at us whilst they launch the old tested way from the ground.

  10. RIP Virgin Orbit.

    I understand “anomalies” but, but, … it worked perfectly in the Mojave Desert. Why Corwall in the middle of winter would be any different? >.<

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