Where is Spaceport Cornwall? Newquay location for the Virgin Orbit UK

The UK’s first ever orbital space launch is due to take place today, taking off from a runway in Cornwall.

Cosmic Girl – a modified Boeing 747 that was once a passenger plane – will carry the rocket into space.

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit company is behind the launch.

Here’s exactly where the launch is happens, and everything else you need to know about it.

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Virgin Atlantic's Cosmic Girl, a specially adapted 747 aircraft that carries a rocket, at Spaceport Cornwall (Photo: PA)© Provided by The i

The launch is taking place at Spaceport Cornwall, which is situated within Newquay Airport.

Newquay Airport was chosen as it has one the longest runways of a regional airport in the UK due to its RAF base, and has direct access to a flight path over the Atlantic.

There is also a low civilian population within the surrounding area compared to many other airports in the UK.

Goonhilly Earth Station, about 35 miles south-west of the spaceport, is already an internationally-known site that has been important within the satellite communications industry for more than 50 years.

Dhara Patel, a space expert from the National Space Agency, told the BBC this was key to Cornwall being chosen as the site for the launch.

“What made Spaceport Cornwall a really attractive place is that it is in the South West which has a really lively space cluster,” he said. “It’s full of businesses, research centres, manufacturing facilities.

“Things like transport infrastructure are in place – you want to be well connected but you want to be remote enough that you are not around densely populated areas – if there was a launch failure you wouldn’t want people near there.”

Ths spaceport is projected to employ 50 people in the next three years.

What time is the rocket launch?
The launch window is currently set to open at 10.16pm.

A select number of people will be able to watch live in person at the launch site, after tickets for the historic event were snapped up.

However, those who are not lucky enough to be able to attend can watch a live stream which will be broadcast on Virgin Orbit’s YouTube channel here.

If the launch cannot take place tonight, there are back-up dates planned in mid-January.

What is the purpose of the launch?
Once Cosmic Girl has flown some 35,000ft (10,700m) high over the Atlantic, it will release a Launcher One rocket.

This will send seven satellites into orbit, before the modified plane returns to base by around midnight.

These will be the first satellites launched into space from Europe. In the past, satellites produced in the UK have had to be sent to foreign spaceports to make their journey into space.

It was originally hoped the launch could take place before Christmas but due to technical and regulatory issues it had to be pushed into 2023.

Ian Annett, deputy CEO at the UK Space Agency, said: “We are entering a new era for space in the UK with the first ever satellite launch from UK soil and from Europe.

“This is a significant landmark for the nation, the UK Space Agency, and for all those who have worked so hard over many years to make our ambitions to create a commercial space launch capability a reality.

“I look forward to seeing more launches from other UK spaceports over the next year, putting us firmly on the map as Europe’s leading destination for commercial small satellite launch.”

Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, said: “This is a phenomenal moment with incredible international collaboration.

“Virgin Orbit, the UK Space Agency and all of our partners are breaking new ground to transform access to space across the world from right here in Cornwall. My team at Spaceport Cornwall have worked so hard to get this far. We wish everyone the best of luck as the launch window opens, we are ready.”

Courtesy: msn.com Story by Alex Finnis 09.01.23

Cosmic Girl and LauncherOne flight path out of Cornwall Airport Newquay (Image: Spaceport Cornwall)

The road closures around Cornwall Airport Newquay for the first UK space launch from British soil