UK’s groundbreaking Virgin Orbit satellite launch fails after rocket malfunction

Europe, News January 11, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Britain’s attempt to get into the space race and become the first European nation to launch satellites ended in failure when its rocket carrying the Virgin Orbit satellite suffered a malfunction on January 9, 2023, preventing it from reaching orbit.

The horizontal launch mission was being hailed as a milestone for the UK space agency. A modified Boeing 777 carrier jet, nicknamed ‘Cosmic Girl’, operated by the American Virgin Orbit company carried a Virgin’s LauncherOne rocket under its wing as it took off from the coastal town of Newquay in southwest England.

After covering several thousand feet of altitude with Cosmic Girl, the rocket was released over the Atlantic Ocean. LauncherOne was supposed to carry the satellite into orbit, marking the first-ever first ever satellite mission launched from British soil.

The rocket ignited and appeared to be ascending in the correct trajectory. However, later it was announced that the rocket had suffered an “anomaly”. The satellite was not released at the right time and was lost during the malfunction.

UK Space Agency’s Launch Program Director Matt Archer said the issue occurred in the upper segment of the rocket. “The second-stage engine had a technical anomaly and didn’t reach the required orbit,” he said.

The agency lost track and contact with the rocket and could not confirm whether the rocket had fallen back to Earth but said that if it did, it would have come down over unpopulated areas or sea. The satellites were insured so their manufacturers and operators will be compensated.

Maker of the LaucnherOne rocket, Virgin Orbits, is a relatively new company within the Virgin Group that provides launch services for small satellites. It is partially owned by British billionaire Richard Branson. LauncherOne has successfully carried out three missions to date, however, the rocket also failed to carry out its first mission in May 2020.

*^{Virgin Orbit performed a drop test of LauncherOne in July 2019. (Image Credit: Virgin Orbit)}*

The mission had been heralded as a historic first for Britain and Europe. Thousands of enthusiasts watching from beside the runway cheered as the ‘Cosmic Girl’ took off and when they were told the rocket had been deployed. The crowd quickly and quietly dispersed following the announcement of failure.

Europe has suffered a series of setbacks in the past year, with its key Ariane 6 launcher delayed. On other occasions, European space agencies had to delay or cancel their plans after failing to collaborate with Russian counterparts and space companies due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Britain’s recent failure deals a further blow to European space ambitions. Last month, an Italian-built Vega-C rocket mission failed after lift-off from French Guiana. Vega-C rockets have since been grounded.