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| Spaceport Cornwall granted operating licence | Spaceport Cornwall granted operating licence |
| (25 days 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 |
| Spaceport Cornwall will be allowed to host the UK's first space launch after it was granted an operating licence by the aviation regulator. | Spaceport Cornwall will be allowed to host the UK's first space launch after it was granted an operating licence by the aviation regulator. |
| The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said, external the site in Newquay could be used for sending satellites into space. | The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said, external 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. |
| The authority said it was in "very advanced stages" with Virgin Orbit on other applications for launch and range licences, as well as discussions with the satellite operators. | The authority said it was in "very advanced stages" with Virgin Orbit on other applications for launch and range licences, as well as discussions with the satellite operators. |
| Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Our licence allows Virgin Orbit to undertake some mission readiness so over the next couple of days we will be doing some major rehearsals for their systems on site. | Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Our licence allows Virgin Orbit to undertake some mission readiness so over the next couple of days we will be doing some major rehearsals for their systems on site. |
| "Once we make sure everything is ok, the rocket is good to go, we can look at a launch in the next couple of weeks. | "Once we make sure everything is ok, the rocket is good to go, we can look at a launch in the next couple of weeks. |
| "So we are still looking at the end of November or beginning of December, as long as all the tech is ready to go." | "So we are still looking at the end of November or beginning of December, as long as all the tech is ready to go." |
| Melissa Thorpe said she hopes the first launch will happen in the next few weeks | Melissa Thorpe said she hopes the first launch will happen in the next few weeks |
| A repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft named Cosmic Girl and Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket travelled from California to Spaceport Cornwall last month. | 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 while carrying the rocket, before releasing it at 35,000ft (10,500m) over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland. | The 747 will take off while carrying the rocket, before releasing it at 35,000ft (10,500m) 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. |
| The rocket will be launched from a modified passenger 747 called "Cosmic Girl" | The rocket will be launched from a modified passenger 747 called "Cosmic Girl" |
| 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. |
| The authority said it was in "very advanced stages" with Virgin Orbit on other applications for launch and range licences, as well as the satellite operators, ahead of a proposed launch. | The authority said it was in "very advanced stages" with Virgin Orbit on other applications for launch and range licences, as well as the satellite operators, ahead of a proposed launch. |
| Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the CAA, said the issuing of the operating licence was a "historic moment" for the UK. | Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the CAA, said the issuing of the operating 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." |
| The CAA has to issue 14 licences before the first launch can take place | The CAA has to issue 14 licences before the first launch can take place |
| Previously satellites produced in the UK have had to be sent to foreign spaceports to be launched into space. | Previously satellites produced in the UK have had to be sent to foreign spaceports to be launched into space. |
| Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "Virgin Orbit's planned launch reinforces our position as a leading space nation as we look to the future of spaceflight which can spur growth and innovation across the sector, as well as creating thousands of jobs and apprenticeships." | Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "Virgin Orbit's planned launch reinforces our position as a leading space nation as we look to the future of spaceflight which can spur growth and innovation across the sector, as well as creating thousands of jobs and apprenticeships." |
| Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay said: "This is another big step forward towards the first satellite launches from European soil from right here in Cornwall. | Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay said: "This is another big step forward towards the first satellite launches from European soil from right here in Cornwall. |
| "I look forward to seeing Virgin Orbit taking the next steps with their wet rehearsal, ahead of the launch itself." | "I look forward to seeing Virgin Orbit taking the next steps with their wet rehearsal, ahead of the launch itself." |
| Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk, external. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk, external. |