The Earth’s position in space has been dubbed the ‘Goldilocks Zone’ for its optimal environment. A little closer to home, a similar regulatory, political and technical parallel has been developing, and is expected to visibly bear fruit in the UK this summer.
The country’s space prowess has accelerated over the last decade and it now produces more satellites than anywhere outside of California. However, the launch business, always lost to other nations, is a different story; the United Kingdom has certainly launched satellites before, but always overseas – that is until now.
Cornwall Airport Newquay, under the brand Spaceport Cornwall, leads the charge for UK launch capability. Issued under the Space Industry Act 2018, its licence permits an integrated ‘air and space port’. Central to the programme is a partnership with launch client Virgin Orbit, whose 747-400 Cosmic Girl made its commercial launch debut a year ago (see Airliner World, July 2021) repeating the feat in January 2022.
Luke Winfield, the site’s spaceport operations manager, said: “We’re very lucky that we have a relationship with a launch provider which has not just done it once, but repetitively. Going into this campaign we’re in a good place.”
