Following its successful fourth mission in California, Virgin Orbit is planning to launch its next satellite from the UK later this year.

The satellite will be launched from Spaceport Cornwall.

The UK Space Agency and Cornwall Council are both supporting the launch, which is set to create 150 jobs in the local area.

In September last year, the UK government published a National Space Strategy which outlined plans for the UK will become the first country in Europe to launch satellites into orbit in 2022.


“Congratulations to Virgin Orbit on another successful US mission, which demonstrates the ability of its innovative launch platform to put satellites into orbit day or night,” said science minister George Freeman.

He added: “We are in a strong position to capitalise on the growing global demand for small satellite launch and to do so in a way that will keep space and our planet sustainable for future generations.”

Virgin Orbit's latest mission launched seven satellites on behalf of the US Space Force that will experiment in space-based communications, in-space navigation, and climate change.

Several national and international satellites have also been confirmed for the first UK launch later this year, with customers including Space Forge, Satellite Applications Catapult and Horizon Technologies, the MOD, DSTL and US National Reconnaissance Office, and the Sultanate of Oman.

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