Image: Virgin Media
Operators behind doomed satellite launch focus on achievements and pledge new orbital launches
A space company has pledged to correct the failures that led to a “historic” UK space launch ending in failure last night, and to “return to orbit” as soon as possible.
The UK’s attempt to become the first country to launch satellites into space from Europe, paving the way to “opening the UK’s galactic gateway”, appears to have encountered technical problems that prevented the rocket from reaching the required altitude.
Virgin Orbit, the company leading the mission it described as “historic”, said the launch started well as the modified Boeing 747 carrying the LauncherOne rocket under its wing successfully took off from Spaceport Cornwall at Newquay Airport.
The rocket was released over the Atlantic Ocean and entered space briefly, but then “the system experienced an anomaly, ending the mission prematurely” before it could reach the altitude required to deploy the satellites.
Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit CEO, said he is “mindful that we failed to provide our customers with the launch service they deserve”.
“The first-time nature of this mission added layers of complexity that our team professionally managed through,” he said, “however, in the end, a technical failure appears to have prevented us from delivering the final orbit.”
But he added: “We will work tirelessly to understand the nature of the failure, make corrective actions, and return to orbit as soon as we have completed a full investigation and mission-assurance process.”
The rocket was carrying satellites for private companies and government agencies.
‘Gutting’
Science minister George Freeman described the launch failure as “gutting” on social media.
He quoted US president John F Kennedy, who was instrumental in the space race to put a person on the moon, as saying: “We do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.”
And Virgin Orbit said that by reaching space, despite the failure, the mission still represents an “important step forward” as the effort behind the flight brought together new partnerships and integrated collaboration for a range of stakeholders, including the UK Space Agency, the Royal Air Force, the Civil Aviation Authority and the US Federal Aviation Administration.
According to reports, the lost satellites pose no danger and are expected to burn or break up over the north Atlantic. The 747 returned to Cornwall safely.
The UK Space Agency invested £7.35 million in Virgin Orbit in 2019 for the launch of satellites from Cornwall.
Despite the mission’s failure, Matt Archer, director of commercial spaceflight at the UK Space Agency, said the agency is “committed” to becoming the leading provider of commercial satellite launch in Europe by 2030. He pointed out that there are also vertical launches planned from Scotland.
“We will work closely with Virgin Orbit as they investigate what caused the anomaly in the coming days and weeks. While this result is disappointing, launching a spacecraft always carries significant risks.”
The launch of the rocket, which was due to happen in the summer, was beset by delays as the mission waited to receive licences from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Last month, following Virgin Orbit receiving the licence for the UK’s first-ever spaceflight launch, transport secretary Mark Harper said “we are one step closer to opening the UK’s galactic gateway”.
And ahead of the launch yesterday, business secretary Grant Shapps said in an online video message that it marks the “beginning of a new era”, adding: “Now, not even the sky is the limit.”
He noted that “some people said we will never make it to this point”, before wishing the crew good luck and saying: “I hope you prove them all wrong.”