Is Virgin Orbit setting up some announcement with SAS? I find some pending page relating to Sky Space and Global on their website (They cant hide it ). As mentioned previously, I suspect SAS will be one of their first Satellite Launches at UK Cornwall and SAS may get the UK Space Agency Launch grant / partnership. Imagine the Big publicity / news media SAS will get from this. UK Space Agency also wants the jobs generated on our London Operation Center.
https://virginorbit.com/case_study/sky-and-space-global/
https://virginorbit.com/case_study/sky-and-space-global/skyspaceglobal_white_new2/
https://virginorbit.com/u-k-space-agency-approves-7-35-million-grant-to-support-air-launch-from-cornwall/UKSA Grant to Fund AdditionalStudies and Design and Manufacturing of Ground Support Equipment
Cornwall, U.K. – November 5, 2019 –The U.K. Space Agency (UKSA)announced today that it will award £7.35 million ($9.5 million) in grantfunding to Virgin Orbit U.K. Limited, the U.K. branch of Sir Richard Branson’ssatellite launch company, to enable the horizontal launch of small satellitesfrom Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport Newquay. In addition to fundsand support provided by Virgin Orbit, the U.K. Space Agency grant comes as partof a broader £20 million funding package for Cornwall Airport Newquayinfrastructure announced by Science Minister Chris Skidmore, which is pendingfinal approval by Cornwall Council later this month.
The funds will beused to develop launch operations support systems and manufacture them in theU.K. In addition, the funds will be used to conduct mission planning, and tofurther ready the facility for satellite launches from Cornwall, with the firstspaceflight targeted for as soon as the fourth quarter of 2021, subject toU.S. and U.K. regulatory approvals. These launches will be conducted using VirginOrbit’s innovative air launch system, LauncherOne, and could well be the firstorbital launches ever conducted from the U.K.
“We’retremendously excited to be supporting the U.K. Space Agency and CornwallCouncil by bringing space launch to the U.K. By establishing a strong local hubfor our launch system, this joint project will boost U.K. participation in afast-growing global space economy while also providing direct, ready, andresponsive access to space for government missions. We very much look forwardto furthering our ties with the cutting-edge satellite innovators across theU.K. and with local industry, who will be critical partners in fulfilling thefull potential of this endeavor. We’re eager to set up a world-class launchfacility at Spaceport Cornwall, bring domestic space launch to the U.K., andlaunch the next generation of satellite developers in their quest to betterunderstand our earth and our environment, connect human kind, serve nationalsecurity, and explore our solar system,” said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart.
“We want the U.K.to be the first country in Europe to give its small satellite manufacturers aclear route from the factory to the spaceport. That’s why it’s so importantthat we are developing new infrastructure to allow aircraft to take off anddeploy satellites, a key capability that the U.K. currently lacks. Today’sannouncement will help the U.K. to harness the commercial opportunities offeredby the global space industry and put the U.K. firmly on the map as Europe’sleading launch destination,” said Science Minister Chris Skidmore.
CornwallCouncilor Geoff Brown, Portfolio Holder for Transport said; “The finalizationand commitment of the £7.35m U.K. Gov investment through the U.K. Space Agencyis a major milestone. This, together with UKSA Horizontal Launch and LEP GrowthDeal funds takes government investment to the Spaceport Cornwall project over£8m. This agreement also confirms Virgin Orbit’s commitment to Cornwall and theU.K. It allows Cornwall Council to make a decision in November to invest withconfidence that the Spaceport project will now go ahead without delay and headrapidly towards a historic launch in 2021. This launch will be the catalyst forlocal jobs, and allows Cornwall and the U.K. to lead on environmental launch,to grow an industry cluster that uses Space data applications to addressclimate change, and is an incredible opportunity to inspire the next generationto pursue a space or science career.”
Virgin Orbit hasalready received U.S. government approval of a Technical Assistance Agreementallowing the launch service provider to begin discussions with U.K.manufacturers about the development of a UK-built transportable groundoperating system — the trailers and related systems that support LauncherOnemissions. This ground operating system would remain on site at SpaceportCornwall, enabling the rapid-response launch of British small satellites to abroad range of low Earth orbits.
