Chinanews.com, January 10 (Xinhua) Comprehensive foreign media reports, on January 9 local time, Virgin Orbit carried out a space-based launch vehicle mission to launch a satellite in Cornwall, England, but ended in failure.
Image source: Screenshot of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report
According to reports, the specially modified Boeing 747 "Cosmic Girl" responsible for carrying the rocket "Launcher One" took off from the southwestern coastal town of Newquay, and the rocket was then launched over the Atlantic Ocean.
But shortly thereafter, Virgin Orbit said the rocket had malfunctioned and was unable to reach orbit.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stated that this means that the UK's first homeland satellite launch mission ended in failure.
Reuters reported that Virgin Orbit initially tweeted that Launcher One had reached Earth orbit, but later deleted the tweet.
Matt Archer, director of commercial space at the UK Space Agency, said: "The next step is an investigation by the government and a number of agencies, including Virgin Orbit."
Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" stated that Virgin Orbit is a company under the Virgin Group, which aims to provide launch services for small satellites.
Launcher One is Virgin Orbit's two-stage launch vehicle for launching small satellites into low Earth orbit.
The company is partly owned by British billionaire Richard Branson.