{"id":40040,"date":"2023-01-09T09:23:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T09:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=114939"},"modified":"2023-01-09T09:32:40","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T09:32:40","slug":"virgin-orbit-to-launch-first-orbital-spaceflight-from-uk-soil-tonight","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/virgin-orbit-to-launch-first-orbital-spaceflight-from-uk-soil-tonight\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgin Orbit to launch first orbital spaceflight from UK soil tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Iain Todd\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 09 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The first ever orbital space launch from the UK looks on track to take place this evening, Monday 9 January.<\/p>\n

The mission \u2013 named \u2018Start Me Up\u2019 as a tribute to British rock band The Rolling Stones \u2013 is launching from Spaceport Cornwall, based at Newquay Airport.<\/p>\n

It will see Virgin Orbit\u2019s modified Boeing 747 \u2013 called \u2018Cosmic Girl\u2019 \u2013 take off from a runway, then release its LauncherOne rocket carrying a payload of satellites.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Virgin Orbit\u2019s LauncherOne rocket ignites moments after being released by carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl for the company\u2019s Launch Demo 2 mission. January 17th, 2021. Credit: Virgin Orbit\/Greg Robinson.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The mission\u2019s launch window opens at 22:16 UTC, but a livestream covering pre-fight operations and launch commentary begins at 21:00 UTC.<\/p>\n

You can watch the launch of the Start Me Up mission via the livestream below, courtesy of the Virgin Orbit YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

Virgin Orbit launch livestream<\/strong><\/h2>\n