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posted by janrinok on Sunday July 21 2019, @02:49PM   Printer-friendly
from the per-ardua-ad-astra dept.

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984

Virgin Orbit, the small satellite launch company backed by billionaire Richard Branson, has signed an initial agreement to develop small satellite launch capabilities for the U.K.’s Royal Air Force (RAF). The deal, which is part of the RAF's Artemis project, will see Virgin Orbit aim to launch hardware provided by Guildford, U.K.-based Surrey Satellites in a demo mission.

This is in keeping with Virgin Orbit's stated hope to bring spacecraft launch capabilities to the U.K. The closest the U.K. has come is when it launched a British satellite aboard a British rocket in 1971 — but that took off from a launchpad in Australia. Virgin Orbit announced a deal to build a new Spaceport in Cornwall, from which its modified 747 launch aircraft will take off, with a target open date of early next decade.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/19/virgin-orbit-signs-agreement-to-launch-small-satellites-for-the-uks-royal-air-force/


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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday July 21 2019, @09:39PM (2 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday July 21 2019, @09:39PM (#869731) Journal

    Limeys are always watching for virgins to defile.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 22 2019, @12:39AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 22 2019, @12:39AM (#869780)

      They have the right idea.

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