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| Spaceport Cornwall granted operating licence | Spaceport Cornwall granted operating licence |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Spaceport Cornwall's first mission is expected to be conducted by Virgin Orbit in the coming weeks | Spaceport Cornwall's first mission is expected to be conducted by Virgin Orbit in the coming weeks |
| The aviation regulator has granted Spaceport Cornwall an operating licence, allowing it to host the UK's first space launch. | The aviation regulator has granted Spaceport Cornwall an operating licence, allowing it to host the UK's first space launch. |
| The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the site in Newquay could be used for sending satellites into space. | The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the site in Newquay could be used for sending satellites into space. |
| Its first mission is expected to be conducted by the Virgin Orbit company in the coming weeks. | Its first mission is expected to be conducted by the Virgin Orbit company in the coming weeks. |
| The mission has been given the title Start Me Up in tribute to The Rolling Stones. | The mission has been given the title Start Me Up in tribute to The Rolling Stones. |
| A repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft named Cosmic Girl and Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket travelled from California to Spaceport Cornwall last month. | |
| The 747 will take off horizontally while carrying the rocket, before releasing it at 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland. | The 747 will take off horizontally while carrying the rocket, before releasing it at 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland. |
| The plane will return to the spaceport, while the rocket will ignite its engine and take multiple small satellites into orbit with a variety of civil and defence applications. | The plane will return to the spaceport, while the rocket will ignite its engine and take multiple small satellites into orbit with a variety of civil and defence applications. |
| 'Leading launch nation' | 'Leading launch nation' |
| The CAA said Spaceport Cornwall had demonstrated it had met the appropriate safety, security and environmental aspects to operate a spaceport in the UK. | The CAA said Spaceport Cornwall had demonstrated it had met the appropriate safety, security and environmental aspects to operate a spaceport in the UK. |
| Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the CAA, said the issuing of the licence was a "historic moment" for the UK. | Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the CAA, said the issuing of the licence was a "historic moment" for the UK. |
| "We're proud to be playing our part in facilitating the UK's space ambitions through assessing the safety, security and other requirements of these activities," he said. | "We're proud to be playing our part in facilitating the UK's space ambitions through assessing the safety, security and other requirements of these activities," he said. |
| "This is another major milestone to enable this country to become a leading launch nation." | "This is another major milestone to enable this country to become a leading launch nation." |
| Satellites produced in the UK have previously needed to be sent to foreign spaceports to get them into space. | Satellites produced in the UK have previously needed to be sent to foreign spaceports to get them into space. |
| Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |