The first launch of a space rocket from Western Europe seems to have failed following a flawless start. Space company Virgin Orbit reported a few hours following the successful launch that it had failed to launch a rocket with satellites into orbit. Due to an ‘anomaly’, the launch vehicle was unable to reach its intended orbit around the Earth. The aircraft that served as a launch pad returned to the airport in Cornwall with the crew without any problems.
The mission was well advanced before technical problems arose. An aircraft, a Boeing 747 named Cosmic Girl, took off from south west England at 11:17 pm (Belgian time) last night, to the applause of regarding 2,000 spectators. Over the Atlantic Ocean, the Cosmic Girl released a rocket, the LauncherOne, just following midnight at an altitude of just over ten kilometers, which was to launch nine satellites of seven customers into orbit around the Earth. However, due to an ‘anomaly’ that failed and the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) might not be reached. “We appear to have an anomaly preventing us from reaching orbit,” a Virgin Orbit spokesperson said. “We are investigating the information.”
Shortly following the launcher anomaly came to light, the Cosmic Girl landed safely at Newquay Airport in Cornwall. It is unclear what happened to the cargo of satellites.
‘Start Me Up’
The failed mission was called ‘Start Me Up’ following the Rolling Stones hit and is the work of British billionaire Richard Branson (72)’s Virgin Orbit company. With his other company Virgin Galactic, the billionaire is currently trying to sell tourist flights to space. That space company previously launched a rocket with an aircraft in the United States.
Until now, British satellites had to be launched from abroad. In addition to Cornwall, the British government also wants to open launch sites in the north of Scotland and on the Shetland Islands. British Science Secretary George Freeman called the launch a historic moment. “Assuming everything goes according to plan, we have won the European space race and will be the first country to launch satellites from Europe,” he told Archyde.com news agency before takeoff. “We are sending a strong signal tonight that we intend to be a force in tomorrow’s space economy.”
LOOK. How will the satellite launch go? Our science expert Martijn Peters explains
West Flanders
Residents of West Flanders should have been the first to see the launch tonight. About five minutes into the mission, the rocket was supposed to emerge above the horizon there. In the minutes that followed, the rest of the country should have had a view of the launch as well, as long as clouds and tall buildings don’t get in the way.
LOOK. Last year, Richard Branson made history with Virgin Galactic with the first regular passenger spaceflight. The businessman then accompanied the successful test flight himself
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