London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Spaceport Cornwall gets all-clear to host rocket launches as UK grants historic licence

Spaceport Cornwall gets all-clear to host rocket launches as UK grants historic licence

Cosmic Girl, a reworked Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 plane, is expected to take off from Spaceport Cornwall near Newquay in the coming weeks, and will then release a rocket capable of carrying satellites into orbit.

The UK has moved a step closer to blasting its first rocket beyond the atmosphere after granting the proposed launch site a spaceport licence.

Spaceport Cornwall, which is based at Newquay's airport, has been authorised to host rocket lift-offs after meeting required safety, security, and environmental standards.

The announcement it had won Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval came hot on the heels of NASA launching its most powerful rocket this morning, firing the starting gun on its historic bid to return humans to the moon.

While Cape Canaveral has hosted plenty of launches dating back to 1950, Cornwall's first remains in the pipeline.

Cosmic Girl, which is a reworked Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 plane, is due to take off from the spaceport in the coming weeks and the granting of the licence allows rehearsals to begin.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Virgin Orbit launch "reinforces our position as a leading space nation as we look to the future of spaceflight".

It will "spur growth and innovation across the sector, as well as creating thousands of jobs and apprenticeships", the minister added.

What do we know about the UK's space programme?

The UK has accelerated its bid to become a bigger player in the space race since last year.

The spaceport licence follows nearly 150 satellite licences already approved by the CAA since becoming the UK's space regulator in July 2021.

Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the authority, said: "When we became the space regulator, we committed to delivering in an open, effective and proportionate way, with public safety at its heart.

"Our work does not stop with this licence decision, as we continue to assess other licence applications and oversee the effectiveness of licenced activities, all enabling the UK's space sector to grow safely and securely."

Further applications from a range of other spaceports and operators are being considered.

A consultation began recently on a proposed launch in Scotland, where a launch pad is due to come online in 2023.

Until now, the UK has never hosted a space launch. The country has only ever completed one orbital launch, the Black Arrow in 1971, and that actually took off in Australia.


The jumbo jet's seats have been ripped out. Pic: Virgin Orbit

When will we see the first UK launch?


Cosmic Girl's launch has been expected to come within weeks, although it will look a little different to the lift-offs we are used to from the likes of NASA.

While the likes of Artemis are vertical launches, Cosmic Girl will be horizontal - and so it won't look dissimilar to a standard plane take-off.

It means the launch is far less weather-dependent and does not require as much ground infrastructure.

Operator Virgin Orbit got the aircraft ready at its factory in California, ripping out the seats, and converting the upper deck into a control centre for launch engineers.

Under its left wing is LauncherOne, a 21m (69ft) rocket which will be released at 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean before accelerating to 8,000mph on its mission to deploy seven satellites into orbit.

It forms part of the government's National Space Strategy, which set out how the UK will become the first country in Europe to launch satellites into orbit in 2022.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×