With the launch of the Virgin Orbit rocket imminent, the license means the US company can begin wetsuit rehearsals ahead of the proposed launch, which would be the first of its kind on European soil.
Payload
Launch into low Earth orbit orbit (LEO) will be carried out using Cosmic Girl, a modified Boeing 747 (pictured). Among the payloads already waiting in place is the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory's (DSTL) miniature space weather instrument suite.
The Coordinated Ionospheric Reconstruction Cubesat Experiment (CIRCE) mission consists of two 6U cube satellites to be launched. to a near-polar low Earth orbit in a "string of pearls" configuration (altitude 555 kilometers).
There's also one from the RHEA Group, built in Oxfordshire by space company Open Cosmos, which will share the ride with five additional satellite missions, including the first-ever satellite built in Wales.
Dubbed "DOVER," the satellite transmits a signal designed by RHEA engineers to provide data from space that can be used on the ground to determine position or exact time.
Also in the payload will be the first Omani CubeSat Aman, which has already been successfully prepared for launch (placed in the launch dispenser and passed a series of checks). The Earth observation satellite will be Oman's first space mission.
"The space cornerstone is being laid for the UK's first orbital space launch, with the UK Civil Aviation Authority awarding Cornwall Spaceport its first ever spaceport licence," UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper said.
"The planned launch of Virgin Orbit strengthens our position as a leading spacefaring nation as we look to the future of spaceflight, which can drive growth and innovation in the sector and create thousands of jobs and apprenticeships."< /p>
CAA
For his part, CAA CEO Richard Moriarty added:
“This is a historic moment as we license the first ever spaceport in the UK. We are proud to play our part in supporting the UK's space ambitions by assessing the safety, security and other requirements of these activities. This is another important milestone that will allow this country to become a leading launch nation.”
"When we became a space regulator, we undertook to work openly, efficiently and proportionately. , which focuses on public safety. Our work does not end with this license decision as we continue to assess other license applications and monitor the effectiveness of the licensed activities, enabling the UK's space sector to grow safely and securely."
UK horizontal launches
Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rockets, designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, are air-launched from a modified 747-400 carrier aircraft, allowing them to operate from multiple locations.
<p>The advantages of a horizontal launch, where the payload is launched by a rocket in midair from an aircraft at an appropriate height above a body of water, include less vulnerability to adverse conditions. A modified aircraft can also use existing airport infrastructure, as is the case at Newquay.
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Source: electronicsweekly.com
