Virgin Orbit: How the UK’s other spaceports compare after Cornwall’s failed launch

Britain has officially joined the space race.

Although the first ever orbital launch from UK soil ended in failure earlier this month, Virgin Orbit’s operations at Spaceport Cornwall are still up and running.

What the company now has to do is establish exactly why its rocket didn’t reach orbit, as the Newquay site desperately tries to hold off stiff competition from rival spaceports aiming to snatch the ‘first successful UK launch’ crown from under its nose.

Already operational

Spaceport Cornwall

Launch type: Horizontal 

Location: Newquay Airport

Cost to build: £20 million

Operator: Virgin Orbit

Mission types hosted: Satellite launches

Date of first launch: January 9, 2023 (ended in failure)

Planned launches per year: 2 (has a licence for up to 12)