UK’s First-Ever Orbital Space Launch ‘Virgin Orbit’ Get Failed

The orbital space launch project Virgin Orbit (VORB.O), was aimed to deploy 9 small satellites into lower Earth orbit (LEO). It is partly owned by Richard Branson.

Britain’s attempt to send satellites into orbit and become the first country in Europe to do so was unsuccessful because scientists noticed a malfunction. 

As it blasted off from a spaceport in Cornwall, southwest England, at 2202 GMT, the first-ever orbital space launch from the UK appeared on course to give Europe its historic first. The launch was called ‘Start Me Up,’ after a Rolling Stones song.

The corporation stated, “We appear to have an error that has stopped us from reaching orbit.” “We are assessing the data.”

The 70-foot (21-meter) rocket was launched aboard a Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 from a spaceport in Cornwall, but when it got closer to its destination, scientists noticed an anomaly, and the launch was deemed unsuccessful.

Also Read: The Apple iPhone 14 Gets Satellite Connectivity In Specific Countries

The setback comes after the failure of a Vega-C rocket mission, which was built in Italy, in late December following liftoff from French Guiana.

Virgin Orbit stated in a series of tweets: “We seem to have a problem that has kept us from getting into orbit. The data is being evaluated. We’re taking down our prior tweet about reaching orbit until we learn more. If we can, we’ll provide further information.”

In its first mission away from its American base, Virgin Orbit (VORB.O), a company owned in part by British billionaire Richard Branson, intended to launch nine tiny satellites into lower Earth orbit (LEO).

Also Read: FunSAT Launched By Skyroot’s Vikram-S Rocket Meets All Parameters

Thousands of fans celebrated as “Cosmic Girl” lifted off and when they heard the rocket had been deployed because the mission had been hailed as a historic first for Cornwall, Britain, and Europe. The revelation of failure caused the audience to quietly and swiftly disperse.

Since UK-produced satellites had previously been placed in orbit through foreign spaceports, this was the first launch from British territory. The UK sought to join the select group of nine nations that could put a spaceship into Earth orbit with this launch.