A mission to launch the UK’s first orbital satellite into space from Cornwall will be a “strategically significant” moment for the country, according to the president of industry trade association UKspace.
A specially adapted Boeing 747 is due to take off from Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport near Newquay on Monday night (January 9). The Virgin Atlantic plane will take off horizontally from the airport while carrying the rocket which will blast nine satellites into space while over the Atlantic.
The launch was initially planned for December but was pushed back after delays in obtaining Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licences.
