Satellite Launches from the UK

[Slim]

A satellite has never been launched into orbit from the UK before, but this summer Virgin Orbit will launch two MoD satellites from Newquay.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-uk-satellite-launch-in-summer-2022

The interesting thing about this is that the satellites will actually be inserted into orbit on a rocket fired from an aircraft - a bit like an air-air missile, except in this case the aircraft is a repurposed Virgin passenger 747.

They should keep a few of the seats and sell tickets, it must be a spectacular sight.

[David L]

But.. but... but surely we shouldn't have been capable of such things after leaving the EU?

[Slim]

So the summer's over, but the 747 ('Cosmic Girl') has arrived in Cornwall ready to launch a string of satellites next month.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/what-richard-bransons-cosmic-girl-7698403

Looking forward to seeing video of the first UK space launch.

[Slim]

So: this didn't happen in November either, but -



https://twitter.com/spacecornwall

[David L]

Is there a pasty onboard?

[pxr5]

I somehow caught a bit of that god-awful program 'Good Morning Britain' on ITV earlier today. The dumb weather woman was convinced that the 747 itself would break up and fall to Earth. Unbelievable.

[Slim]

Live stream coverage here: the 747 is due to take off in about 50 minutes (as I type).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0qH8dLrNOc

[Slim]

Well, the coverage was pretty underwhelming. But as far as I can tell the launch has been a success, so far. The rocket's doing what it's supposed to, but the satellites aren't deployed yet.

[Fishy]

It failed apparently....

[David L]

"Phut!"

[Matt2112]

A noble failure, apparently.

Musk's early forays into this business resulted in quite spectacular failures - but it's accepted as part of the process.

[Slim]

Yes, very disappointing but all part of the game. Can't imagine the expense though. But at least no-one died.

[David L]

Poor old Branson, his name is synonymous with cosmic failures 

[Slim]

I was working for Morgan Stanley in our office in New York in 1998 when one of my colleagues, an Australian ex-pat called Steve who had a desk next to the window, glanced outside and noticed a tank flying the Union Jack rolling along Seventh Avenue, a few floors below.

He called me over and I recognised Richard Branson poking out of the turret and waving to onlookers. "I thought you blokes were trying to get the colonies back for a minute", Steve said.

Just found this pic of that occasion. Judging by the location I would have been no more than 200m away, 8 floors up in 750 Seventh Avenue when this was taken. Probably about a minute after I'd seen it myself.

[David L]

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-overshadows-sir-richard-145956163.html