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AccelerComm and TTP are jointly formulating a high-performance, 5G, LEO Regenerative base station for deployment on LEO satellites. The project combines expertise and IP from the two companies and additional technology from partners to propose a dedicated 5G regenerative gNodeB¹ solution tailored to support high-performance 5G services in the challenging environment of a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN).

In a typical LEO deployment, one satellite covers a wide geographical area, using a large number of beams to cover a multitude of subscribers. Terrestrial gNodeB products of similar scale are not designed to deal with this unique LEO deployment challenge. Also, any gNodeB platform for space applications will be highly constrained in size, weight, and power and must be able to work in the hostile space environment.

The joint AccelerComm TTP LEO Regenerative base station solution will be designed to meet the growing demand for satellite-based eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband) and IoT (Internet of Things) services. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses and organizations that need to connect people and devices in remote locations, or for governments looking to provide internet access to all citizens.

The solution will support a large number of beams and high subscriber density and will be delivered on a space-hardened platform optimized for low-power and size. It includes a range of advanced developments in beam-to-cell mapping, beam forming and NTN beam-management.

The O-RAN compliant gNodeB leverages AccelerComm’s LEOphy, a Layer 1 modem that delivers enhanced performance for low-earth orbit satellite communications. LEOphy boasts the lowest error rates, with dedicated features to overcome the specific challenges of NTN channels, such as high path losses, differential delays, doppler shift, long propagation delays, and rapid fluctuations in signal amplitude and phase caused by atmospheric effects. As a result, it ensures a high-reliability link without resorting to lower coding rates and low-order modulation schemes, thereby maximizing spectral efficiency.

“For satellite 5G to be truly successful, there are a number of performance and efficiency challenges which have to be overcome. Solving these requires building on the existing 3GPP technologies to create a tailored solution built to deal with the unique challenges,” said Rob Barnes, Chief Marketing Officer at AccelerComm. “There has been an explosion in interest around combining satellite and traditional mobile communications systems with the iPhone 14 launch and the T-Mobile Starlink announcement. “However, for satellite 5G to be truly successful, there are a number of performance and efficiency challenges which have to be overcome. Solving these requires building on the existing 3GPP technologies to create a tailored solution built to deal with the unique challenges of operating around a thousand kilometres from earth, at speeds of over 7km per second, all while dealing with power and resource constraints. We are delighted to be working with our partner TTP to develop this high-performance solution which will open up a whole new market for delivering 5G services from space.”

“TTP is pleased to partner with AccelerComm to define a highly scalable and low power gNodeB solution, that will enable LEO operators to efficiently deliver 5G NTN services,” said Adrian Hillier, TTP’s Head of Next G. “A 5G NTN LEO regenerative gNodeB deployment presents unique challenges when compared to Terrestrial gNodeB. In order to serve the number of beams and support the density of subscribers required, the gNodeB will have to be heavily optimized and tightly integrated with the overall payload functionality.”

¹A 5G Base Station uses New Radio (NR) technology and is referred to as a gNodeB (gNb). gNodeB radios features Software Defined Radio (SDR) with various MIMO options including 2×2, 4×4, 8×8 and Massive MIMO options for higher capacities. Options for 5G deployment in Sub-6GHz bands as well as Millimeter Wave (mmWave) bands are available. — https://www.5gradio.com

Comments are due no later than 2:00 pm PST on March 11, 2023

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center invites review and comment on the draft of its Suborbital/Hosted Orbital Flight and Payload Integration Services 4 solicitation.

The new solicitation will replace contracts for existing services and seeks to add new capabilities – including hosting payloads in orbit and flying NASA researchers on suborbital flights – which will expand opportunities for a wider range of commercial companies to participate.

The purpose of this solicitation is to acquire space on commercial flights for space technology payloads, along with payload integration services. The objective is to fly these payloads aboard platforms that fly at high altitudes, offer reduced gravity, or provide other relevant environments required to test the technologies and advance their readiness for use in future space missions.

In addition to hosting payloads, contractors may provide space for NASA personnel to fly as researchers aboard those suborbital platforms capable of supporting human flight.

This contract will be managed by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, in collaboration with the agency’s Small Spacecraft Technology program, with the flights and other services solicited available for NASA internal use across the agency as well as for other government agencies.

Interested respondents can view the full draft solicitation online. Potential offerors are encouraged to comment on all aspects of the draft solicitation, including the requirements, schedules, proposal instructions, and evaluation approaches, as well as any other programmatic elements associated with performance of the work.

The current planned release date for the final Request for Proposal (RFP) is on or about March 23, 2023, with proposals due approximately 30 calendar days later. The anticipated contract award date is July 15, 2023, with an August 1, 2023, contract effective date. These contracts will replace the existing Flight Opportunities indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts when those expire.

Comments are due no later than 2:00 pm PST on March 11, 2023.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”) has released two, new, high-performance space systems products designed to increase the availability of essential satellite components to the global, small satellite market.

Bolstering the company’s existing line of proven satellite components, the new Rocket Lab products include the Frontier-X software defined radio (SDR) designed to provide high speed data for near Earth and deep space smallsat missions, as well as a new 12Nms reaction wheel designed specifically for constellation class satellites.

The products join Rocket Lab’s existing heritage space systems components including star trackers, reaction wheels, separation systems, radios, flight software, ground software, and solar power solutions. Combined, Rocket Lab’s space systems components have supported more than 1,700 space missions to date.

Enabling Smalllsat Deep Space Missions
Rocket Lab’s new Frontier-X radio is a high-speed, X-band ranging, RF transceiver designed to expand the reach of small satellites beyond LEO to cislunar and deep space destinations as well as provide an affordable alternative for mission payload downlink at LEO.

The Rocket Lab Frontier-X radio joins the Frontier-S ranging RF transceiver in bringing advanced functionality not typically available in affordable software-defined radios. This includes a coherent transponder to enable radiometric navigation methods, precision timekeeping functions, turbo and convolutional encoding compliant with recommended standards by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), and a hardware-based, critical command decoder (CCD).

The X-band radio packs Deep Space Network (DSN) waveforms, two-way doppler and regenerative ranging, beacon modes, and low baud rates enabled by low power digital signal processing (DSP) in a low mass solution. The Fronter-X radio has the durability to survive in high radiation environments beyond Earth orbit, including to GEO and deep space.

Rocket Lab’s Frontier radios are based on the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Applied Physics Laboratory’s (APL) Frontier Radio and backed by proven flight heritage, having successfully flown the Frontier-S on the Company’s Photon spacecraft, a Rocket Lab designed and launched spacecraft that deployed the CAPSTONE satellite to the Moon for NASA.

The Frontier-X radio has completed qualification, is slated to fly on NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission to Mars, for which Rocket Lab is developing and building two spacecraft. Frontier-X is available for order now with production taking place at Rocket Lab’s headquarters in Long Beach.

Constellation-Class Reaction Wheel
Building upon strong space heritage and extensive experience across decades of reaction wheel production with Sinclair Interplanetary by Rocket Lab, the new 12Nms reaction wheel has been developed to expand attitude control solutions that already include reaction wheels ranging from 10mNms to 1Nms and high-performance star trackers.

Rocket Lab’s 12Nms reaction wheel, designed for long-life and reliability, is ideal for attitude control of spacecraft with masses as high as 600 to 650 kg and lifetimes as long as 12 years. With its low mass, power, and volume, the 12Nms reaction wheel caters to high mission assurance civil or national security missions as well as high volume constellation missions.

The 12Nms wheel comes in a radiation hardened variant for longer life and a LEO variant for shorter lifetime missions. The 12Nms wheel is currently planned for flight with an undisclosed large mega constellation customer.

Rocket Lab’s reaction wheels have been used in more than 100 satellites to date for missions and constellations focused on remote sensing, communications, science, technology demonstrations, and more. The 12Nms reaction wheel is under production and available immediately.

DCUBED’s new line of release actuators Micro Pin Puller and Micro Release Nut will fly aboard LuxSpace’s multipurpose small-satellite platform Triton-X on the upcoming Genesis mission.

The Triton-X Genesis project is the first step in the roll-out of the Triton-X platform, a multi-mission product providing high on-board processing power and scalable in the 50-250 kg range.

Later last year, LuxSpace sold a Triton-X Heavy satellite for the Seranis project of the University of the German Bundeswehr, leveraging 15+ years of Space systems design, manufacturing, and in-orbit delivery.

DCUBED and LuxSpace share the goal of enabling missions to take their capabilities to the next level and look forward to demonstrating their new technologies with their upcoming mission.

DCUBED’s CEO Thomas Sinn in Germering (Bavaria, Germany) can assist with COTS release actuators and COTS deployables that are specifically designed for SmallSat applications. DCUBED’s pin puller and release nut actuators are space-proven, readily available, easy to use, and small in size. The DCUBED SmallSat deployables (Space Selfie Stick, 100W 1U solar array and deployable radiator) tackle the needs of new space customers by maximizing performance in space while remaining efficiently packed in a standardised volume for launch. 

LuxSpace (CEO Edgar Milic) was established in Luxembourg in 2004 as a subsidiary of OHB SE and is an integrated provider of small satellites and space-based applications and services. The company can look back on seven successfully launched space systems, including the Triton-2/ESAIL satellite launched , and has over 16 years of experience in data applications with a particular focus on the maritime sector and Earth observation.

Procures satellites and plans Australian operations for new Low Earth Orbit constellation to power connectivity for smart devices

EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) has announced an agreement with Astro Digital, a designer, manufacturer and operator of smallsat systems, for the construction of a global, S-band, mobile satellite service (MSS) network.

Under the agreement, Astro Digital will manufacture the satellites for the constellation, which will deliver global Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine (M2M) and other data services starting in 2024. EchoStar will operate the constellation from its Australian subsidiary, EchoStar Global.

The 28 satellites in this constellation design will feature an advanced software-defined radio (SDR) with onboard storage and processing to power smart two-way device connectivity. The satellites will be enabled with the LoRa® (meaning “Long Range”) protocol for connecting very low-cost, long-lived devices. With support for 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) services, the constellation will serve as a foundation for EchoStar to engineer 5G New Radio (NR) based NTN capabilities, according to 3GPP release 17 specifications.

Through its subsidiary, EchoStar Mobile Limited, EchoStar also operates an MSS network in Europe using the GEO EchoStar XXI satellite, which will interoperate seamlessly with the new LEO constellation.

“This agreement represents another step forward towards our goal of a global non-terrestrial 5G network,” said Hamid Akhavan, CEO, EchoStar. “With our engineering ingenuity, our service delivery expertise and our spectrum rights, EchoStar is uniquely positioned to offer worldwide S-band satellite services to help meet the insatiable demand for complete and constant connectivity.”

“These new capabilities will fill a gap in the connected ecosystem, greatly expanding worldwide IoT interoperability,” said Josh Williams, managing director, EchoStar Global Australia. “Our team, together with Astro Digital, has already begun integration of our Australian-based operations to bring to market a truly global solution with consistent and reliable network performance.”

SpaceRyde has signed an agreement with Qosmosys to be the official launch partner of Qosmosys’ Qace, the first, in-space, satellite racing game.

Qosmosys is a private company established in Singapore with the purpose of contributing to the development of infrastructures in space, on the Moon and beyond. Qace is one brand name issued by Qosmosys’ in-house incubator that prepares applied technologies for the company’s Moon applications.

With a first race scheduled by end of 2024, Qace will use disruptive technologies onboard recyclable smallsats to allow game participants to influence the trajectory and speed of the spacecraft.

“What has seduced us with SpaceRyde is their ability to innovate and make their dreams come true, pushing the limits of science and technology,” said Francois Dubrulle, CEO of Qosmosys. “For us, Spaceryde is not only the finest technical option because of their on-demand launch capabilities, but a great business opportunity to combine innovations and excellence in a single service.”

“We’re thrilled to be the official launch partner of Qosmosys’s Qace racing game,” said Sohrab Haghighat, CEO of SpaceRyde. “Not only is Qace a perfect example of the type of lucrative innovations that can come from on-demand launch technology, but also we see potential for many more partnerships with our Rocket Network and Qosmosys as they build towards the moon.”

Qosmosys is an international private company established with the purpose of offering on-demand services to public or private organizations that desire to operate on the Moon and beyond in three sectors: mining, robotics, science tech and transportation.

SpaceRyde is building the space transportation infrastructure through a network of multi-purpose rockets that move between the Earth and the Moon. These reusable rockets stay operational in space beyond the initial mission, offering a private Uber-like service for cargo in Space. With this network of rockets, SpaceRyde will accelerate the speed of innovation in space and unlock the gold rush in space. At the core of SpaceRyde’s business is the belief that the development of the new space economy shouldn’t come at the cost of our planet. SpaceRyde has developed the world’s only sustainable launch system that transports the rocket above the atmosphere using a stratospheric balloon with zero emissions, protecting the ozone layer and reducing the environmental impact on Earth. Headquartered in Canada, SpaceRyde is pioneering the space launch industry and its facilities are the country’s first rocket manufacturing and testing facilities.

Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) , a U.S. commercial space company that offers transportation and other in-space infrastructure services, has signed a contract with FOSSA Systems, a Spanish company that offers global low-power Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and in-space services through its satellite constellation, to place its latest generation of satellites, FOSSASat FEROX, into low-Earth orbit on two Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle missions starting in 2023.

The first group of FOSSA’s next-generation satellites is slated to launch on a Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle on the SpaceX Transporter-8 mission no earlier than June 2023. This mission will demonstrate the satellites’ new design features and act as a demonstration for a second batch of satellites expected to launch onboard a follow-on Vigoride vehicle on a later SpaceX Transporter mission, kicking off the deployment of a new constellation of FOSSA satellites.

“FOSSA Systems flew with us on our inaugural mission that launched in May 2022. We’re pleased to have earned their trust in selecting us as their space transportation provider for their new satellites, and we look forward to building a long-term partnership toward our first large-scale constellation deployment,” said Momentus Chief Executive Officer John Rood. “FOSSA is on a mission to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity and technologies. We’re proud that our services are integral to achieving their disruptive vision.”

“FOSSA Systems already has a constellation of 13 picosatellites in orbit, but this next-generation will allow us to deliver higher capacity services in a commercial manner for a wider range of applications, supporting IoT and other space-related services in areas such as communications or remote sensing,” said FOSSA Chief Executive Officer Julian Fernandez. “This new generation of satellites provides unprecedented capabilities comparable to that of 6 – 12U satellites in a fraction of the size, mass, and cost. We are happy to reaffirm our trust in Momentus as we look at our launch plans for our initially 80-satellite constellation to support SaaS and dedicated satellite customers in sectors such as Maritime, Logistics, Infrastructure, Utilities or National Security.”

Fleet Space announces the first deployment of its ExoSphere satellite-based mineral exploration system in Africa, in a new partnership with Resonance Frequency Exploration Group (RFEG), based in the USA with operations in Accra, Ghana. Under a licensing and technology cooperation agreement finalized in December 2022, Fleet Space will supply its Geode portable sensors, which use Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) to collect subsurface data. This data is then beamed to the ExoSphere constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and then relayed to computers that use intelligent data processing to generate detailed 3D subsurface maps. Unlike traditional prospecting methods that can take months or years to complete, the whole process takes only days or weeks. 

Adelaide, South Australia; Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO and Co-Founder, Fleet Space Technologies stated, “There is an urgent, global need to discover new sources of critical minerals to support the transition to clean energy and net-zero. Building on our existing successful partnerships in Australia and North America, we’re delighted that our ExoSphere system is now being deployed on mineral exploration projects in Africa for the first time. Through this pioneering licensing and technology cooperation agreement, ExoSphere will give our partners at RFEG access to our Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) and real-time processing capabilities to complement their own proprietary systems. Together, we can greatly speed up the exploration process for a range of vital minerals, while also massively reducing its environmental impact — a win-win for Ghana and the wider international response to climate change.”

ExoSphere brings a powerful new dimension to the ongoing Mineral Resource Estimate projects RFEG is conducting, in particular in the Oti Region of Ghana. Under the auspices of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA), with implementation by RFEG’s team, ExoSphere will complement RFEG’s own XPLR remote-sensing mapping-analysis technology. This is achieved by cross-referencing the data from both sources, thereby significantly increasing the likelihood of finding new mineral deposits more quickly and with much greater accuracy. 

ExoSphere’s Geodes are light enough to be carried by one team member, making them ideal for use in challenging and inaccessible terrain. They are also entirely non-invasive, eliminating the need for explosives or vibrating trucks to collect subsurface seismic data. This substantially reduces costs, logistical issues and environmental disturbance; the accuracy of the combined data collection and analysis by Exosphere and RFEG’s systems also means, for mining operators, that drilling can be streamlined to areas where considerable deposits are known to exist. 

RFEG selected Fleet Space as its technical partner after a worldwide search. The company is seeking to help current and prospective clients in the USA, Africa, Central and South America take a more tech-forward, eco-conscious approach to better ascertain site viability and increase operating efficiencies. In particular, it is focusing on using satellite-based image processing technologies analyzed by proprietary algorithms to determine a prospective site’s viability before embarking on traditional geophysical work. RFEG founder Schad Brannon said, “The addition of ExoSphere 3D rendering of subsurface topography by Fleet Space propels the XPLR technology product suite and technology-stack to the next level by creating the most comprehensive satellite-based remote sensing survey product available within the mineral exploration marketplace to date”.     

Fleet Space founder Flavia Tata Nardini says, “We’re incredibly excited to see ExoSphere being deployed in Africa, and to be working in partnership with RFEG. Our two organizations have much in common: we’re both looking to make mineral exploration faster and more efficient through technology; we’re explorers and pioneers developing that technology ourselves; and we’re absolutely committed to reducing the environmental impact of these activities, which are fundamental to economic development and climate action.”

Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, contributed to the SpaceX Transporter-6 launch by providing critical hardware components for several of the payload’s smallsats.

The payloads had various missions, including tech demos, EO, comms and signal intelligence. All of the work on these components was conducted by the company in Boulder, Colorado.

The BCS products aboard the launch included five, high performance, FleXcore attitude control systems and six flight sets of reaction wheels. FleXcore is equipped with a powerful processing core and, coupled with BCT’s reaction wheel assemblies, provides dependable performance that safeguard mission success.

The company’s reaction wheels are built to provide spacecraft with the precise combo of torque and momentum storage that is required to navigate a successful mission. They are equipped with brushless DC motors that have higher efficiency and performance, as well as highter torque to weight ratio.

“At Blue Canyon, enabling our customers to achieve optimal results for diverse space and aerospace missions is a top priority. By offering a comprehensive suite of spacecraft services and technology products, BCT can meet various mission objectives with our flight prove and flexible designs,” said Jeff Schrader, President of blue Can Technologies.

Partners for the United Kingdom’s first orbital launch announced that the initial window for the historic Start Me Up mission will officially open on Monday, January 9th at 22:16, UTC, with additional back-up dates continuing into mid- and late January — Start Me Up is a collaborative effort between the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), Cornwall Council, the Royal Air Force (RAF St Mawgan), and Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB).

The Start Me Up mission will carry satellites from seven customers to space, including commercial and government payloads from several nations as well as a collaborative US-UK mission.

The LauncherOne system that will conduct the mission is now mated to its carrier aircraft, a Boeing 747 dubbed Cosmic Girl, at Spaceport Cornwall. Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system successfully completed an end-to-end launch rehearsal, taking the integrated system through to the loading of propellants and proceeding through terminal count, resulting in the verification of the health of the system and readiness of the team.

Given the number of “firsts” being executed for this launch – the first orbital launch from UK soil or from anywhere in western Europe — Virgin Orbit and its partners will maintain a conservative posture with regard to system health, weather and all other elements of scheduling.

Spaceport Cornwall received the United Kingdom’s first spaceport license from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in November of 2022. In late December of 2022, Virgin Orbit was issued first-of-their-kind launch and range control licenses, which ensured all regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements have been met. This week, the CAA announced that all of the satellites flying on this mission have received their licenses as well.

The forthcoming mission from Cornwall will contain many firsts: the first orbital launch from the United Kingdom, the first international launch for Virgin Orbit and the first commercial launch from western Europe.

Start Me Up will be the fifth consecutive Virgin Orbit launch to carry payloads for private companies and government agencies. All of the prior 33 satellites were carried by LauncherOne to their precise desired orbit, while demonstrating the ability to fly through and above inclement weather, integrate rapid-call up payloads, and reach a broader range of orbits than would be possible from a traditional ground-launch system.

The launch was acquired by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Virgin Orbit National Systems, a Virgin Orbit U.S. subsidiary serving classified customers, as the first task order on NRO’s Streamlined Launch Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contract, or “SLIC.”

The missions of the satellites span a wide range of activities aimed at improving life on Earth, including reducing the environmental impact of production; preventing illegal trafficking, smuggling, and terrorism; and a host of national security functions. The full Start Me Up manifest…

IOD-3 AMBER (aka IOD-3)
Developed by Satellite Applications Catapult (“SA Catapult”) and Horizon Technologies and built by AAC Clyde Space, all based in the U.K. IOD-3 Amber is expected to be the first of more than 20 Amber satellites to provide space-based Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) data to users.

Prometheus-2
Two cubesats owned by the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s (MOD) Defense Science & Technology Laboratory Dstl. These satellites, co-funded with Airbus Defence and Space who are designing them jointly with In-Space Missions, will support MOD science and technology (S&T) activities both on-orbit and on the ground through the development of ground systems focused at Dstl’s site near Portsmouth.

CIRCE (Coordinated Ionospheric Reconstruction CubeSat Experiment)
CIRCE is part of a joint mission between the U.K.’s Defense Science and Technology Laboratory and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).

DOVER
Developed by RHEA Group in the UK, it is the company’s first satellite in its 30-year history. The satellite is being co-funded through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Navigation Program (NAVISP) and built by Open Cosmos of the United Kingdom. DOVER is a smallsat that was created as a pathfinder for resilient global navigation satellite systems.

ForgeStar-0
Developed by Space Forge of Wales, the satellite is a fully returnable and reusable platform to enable in-space manufacturing. This launch will be the first for the company’s ForgeStar platform and will test future returns from space technology.

AMAN
Oman’s first orbital mission, it is a single EO satellite meant to demonstrate the future feasibility of a larger constellation and was developed after a memorandum of understanding among the Sultanate of Oman, Polish Small Satellite manufacturer and operator SatRev, Poland-originated AI data analytics specialists

TUATARA, and Omani-based merging technology innovator ETCO.
The agreement includes additional planned small satellites, including this, the first in Oman’s history.

STORK-6
Stork-6 is the next installment of Polish Small Satellite manufacturer and operator SatRev’s STORK constellation. Virgin Orbit previously launched two spacecraft in this constellation on a previous launch and looks forward to continuing to launch SatRev’s STORK spacecraft in the future.

Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and are air-launched from the wing of a converted Boeing 747-400 aircraft named Cosmic Girl. Virgin Orbit’s unique air-launch platform can take off from any runway long enough to handle a Boeing 747. Not reliant on traditional spaceports that support vertical launches, this capability creates a new level of mobility for satellite launch, thereby enabling sovereign launch capability in new markets.

Ian Annett, Deputy CEO at the UK Space Agency, said, “We are entering a new era for space in the UK with the first ever satellite launch from UK soil and from Europe. This is a significant landmark for the nation, the UK Space Agency and for all those who have worked so hard over many years to make our ambitions to create a commercial space launch capability a reality. The development of new orbital launch capabilities is already generating growth, catalysing investment and creating jobs in Cornwall and other communities across the United Kingdom. This will lead to new careers, improved productivity and inspire the next generation of space professionals, and this is just the beginning. I look forward to seeing more launches from other UK spaceports over the next year, putting us firmly on the map as Europe’s leading destination for commercial small satellite launch.”

Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit CEO, said, “After ensuring that every technical aspect is sound and every regulation and code has been satisfied, it is gratifying to see this historic endeavor on the verge of coming to fruition. This launch represents the opening of a new era in the British space industry and new partnerships across industry, government, and allies. Space is already responsible for tens of thousands of jobs across the UK, the global industry is growing quickly, and so is the potential. And this launch is demonstrating that with the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne system an airport can become a spaceport that sends humankind’s innovations on their journey.”

Melissa Thorpe, Head of Spaceport Cornwall, said, “This is a phenomenal moment with incredible international collaboration. Virgin Orbit, the UK Space Agency and all of our partners are breaking new ground to transform access to space across the world from right here in Cornwall. My team at Spaceport Cornwall have worked so hard to get this far and we wish everyone the best of luck as the launch window opens, we are ready.”

Tim Johnson, Director for Space Regulation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said, “Effective licensing forms an integral part of UK space activity, and with public safety at the heart of our decision making, we’ve worked with Virgin Orbit and Spaceport Cornwall to assess their applications and issue licences within our expected timeframe, putting the UK framework on a competitive footing with international space regulators. With all licences in place, Virgin Orbit and Spaceport Cornwall are now in a position to deliver a historic first orbital launch from UK shores. We’re proud to be playing our part in facilitating the UK’s space ambitions and enable this country to become a leading launch nation.”