The first launch of a space mission from the United Kingdom ended in failure. After experiencing an in-flight malfunction, Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket was unable to reach the scheduled orbit, prematurely ending the mission.
Unlike other space launches, the Virgin Orbit rocket is launched from the wing of a modified 747-400 — called Cosmic Girl. This allows missiles to be launched from various regions of the world, without the need for a traditional launch tower.
The aircraft took off from the runway of the newly built Cornwall Spaceport, last Monday night (9), and launched LauncherOne into the air at 8:11 pm (Brasilia time), while flying over the southwest coast of Ireland. The rocket then turned on its first stage engines and operated for about five minutes as planned.
However, a technical malfunction occurred during the launch of the missile's second stage engine, while it was traveling at a speed of more than 17,000 kilometers per hour. Despite reaching space, the rocket did not reach the correct orbit, losing its payload of nine small satellites from seven different customers – including the first satellite manufactured in Wales.
On Twitter, Virgin Orbit ended up getting in trouble by tweeting that the mission had been completed successfully, then deleting the post to report the anomaly that had been discovered. You can watch the live broadcast in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Co18HcyqHk
Of the five missions already launched using the Launcher One rocket, this is the first time it has taken place on British soil, and it is also the first to fail to complete its mission.
in NBDan Hart, the company's CEO, said he was proud of the many things Virgin Orbit has achieved so far. “We will work tirelessly to understand the nature of the failure, take corrective action and return to orbit once the full investigation is completed,” the CEO said.
Hard has also stated that he intends to release a second release in the UK later this year, as well as in other locations around the world. It is worth noting that Virgin Orbit has already received permission from the AEB (Brazilian Space Agency) and FAB (Brazilian Air Force) to launch its rockets from the Alcântara Launch Center in Maranhão.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.