An English surfing resort was counting down to the first launch of orbital satellites into space from western Europe on Monday, when Virgin Orbit's mission will transform the Cornish town of Newquay into the country's first spaceport.
A modified Boeing 747 with a rocket under its wing is set to take off from Newquay on Monday evening, watched by crowds across the runway, before soaring out over the Atlantic where after an hour it will release a rocket at about 35,000 feet.
Virgin Orbit Chief Executive Dan Hart said the satellites - which are the size of breakfast cereal boxes - would fulfil tasks such as maritime research and detecting illegal fishing and piracy, as well as national security. He added that partnerships with the likes of the UK Space Agency, Spaceport Cornwall, the British aviation regulator and the country's air force, had made the launch possible.The aircraft, named Cosmic Girl, is expected to take off at some point between 2140 GMT and 2300 GMT, but it is dependent on the weather and "health of the system" and Virgin Orbit has said there are back-up dates available for later in January.
Virgin Orbit's focus on LEO satellites is at the other end of the scale from the large satellites in geostationary orbit that are launched by vertical rockets.
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