First UK Orbital Launch Failure Blamed on Rocket's Second Stage Abruptly Calling It Quits

On January 9, 2023, the so-called Spaceport Cornwall in the UK witnessed the take-off of a Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl. The plane, belonging to Virgin Orbit, was carrying under its left wing a rocket called LauncherOne, in turn housing satellites for seven of the company’s commercial customers. It was supposed to be UK’s first orbital launch, but it failed. The Boeing’s departure from the runway went withou... (continue reading...)