Cornwall Countdown To Launch!

As we build up to the country’s first launch, excitement is reaching a fever pitch in the UK. To keep you on top of what’s happening, we’re rounding up last week’s news related to the Cornwall countdown. 

NMO grants marine for the Virgin Orbit satellite launch project

A marine licence has been issued by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) ahead of the satellite launch project. This was a milestone along the Cornwall countdown.

The licence covers the launch in 2022, which will be the first of its kind in the country. 

As per The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, an MMO licence is essential because material is to be deposited into the sea. This means the NMO must evaluate the environmental impact. 

The Marine Management Organisation’s Director of Licensing, Marine Planning, and Global Marine, Trudi Wakelin, said the following:

“We have worked with primary advisers, interested parties, and members of the public during the consultation period to ensure any potential impacts were considered and appropriately assessed.

“This enabled MMO to issue the marine licence to the Virgin Orbit project, in preparation for their planned launch later this year.”

Spaceport Cornwall honoured with a Royal visit 

On Friday 21st October, HRH Princess Anne paid a visit to Spaceport Cornwall and Goonhilly Earth Station. She met the team behind the Virgin Orbit project.

Head of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa Thorpe, said the following about the Princess Royal’s visit:

“She was extremely enthusiastic about the next era of UK space exploration and how this will benefit Cornwall and the rest of the UK.

“It was an honour to showcase how much work has been done to place our county at the forefront of this industry and lead the way in the use of Space for Good.”

Oman’s first satellite is ready for launch 

Ground teams successfully integrated Aman, the first satellite from Oman, with Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket. Aman is the result of a global collaboration between Poland, the United States, and the Sultanate of Oman. As of 29th October, all of the satellites are on Launcher One.

The project represents part of the Oman Vision 2040, which is a national program that seeks to foster social well-being and economic competitiveness. 

Crews took final steps ahead of them attaching the rocket onto the modified hardpoint on the B747 Cosmic Girl. In another important way point on the Cornwall countdown, the rocket itself is already on the launch site and is waiting for the British government to grant a launch license. 

7-year-old’s logo displayed on rocket ahead of the UK launch

A talented and lucky seven-year-old from Bolton has won a competition to have his logo design placed on the first rocket to launch from the UK. 

Ahead of the launch date, the UK Space Agency invited Callum Wilkinson to the Science Museum in the capital to see his logo on a 72 ft replica of the rocket. 

He said:

“I loved getting to explain my logo again, this time to the pilot! It was awesome, epic and a blast!” 

Orbital Today will continue to cover the Cornwall countdown in the days ahead of this epic launch.