First Space Launch From UK Soil Today

[Spymaster]

This has gone under the radar.

UK space launch: Historic Cornwall rocket mission set to blast off

A modified jumbo jet will fly out of Cornwall on a mission to send nine satellites to orbit.

www.bbc.co.uk

Going up this afternoon, weather permitting.

 

[WouldBe]

And if they can find a milk bottle big enough.

 

[platinumsage]

That’s fake news. It’s just a 747 take-off, of which there have been plenty before from UK soil. Some place over the Atlantic this one is going to drop a rocket which will then power up into space.

It is certainly not a rocket mission blasting off from Cornwall.

 

[Spymaster]

It is certainly not a rocket mission blasting off from Cornwall.

And it’s not being billed as one.

 

[Pickman's model]

That’s fake news. It’s just a 747 take-off, of which there have been plenty before from UK soil. Some place over the Atlantic this one is going to drop a rocket which will then power up into space.

It is certainly not a rocket mission blasting off from Cornwall.

Are you disputing that the satellite ascends from Cornwall?

 

[platinumsage]

Are you disputing that the satellite ascends from Cornwall?

I’m disputing the headline “Cornwall rocket mission set to blast off”.

Where’s the launch pad located? Oh there isn’t one, so no blast off.

Should be “Airplane takes off from Cornwall to take rocket somewhere else from where it will proceed to space”

 

[Pickman's model]

I’m disputing the headline “Cornwall rocket mission set to blast off”.

Where’s the launch pad located? Oh there isn’t one, so no blast off.

Should be “Airplane takes off from Cornwall to take rocket somewhere else from where it will proceed to space”

Maybe you should bother the bbc with your animus toward their headline, they may take you on as a sub-editor. Or simply bin your email.

 

[MickiQ]

I suppose the Bearded Wonder will be present at the launch mugging for the cameras

 

[Pickman's model]

I suppose the Bearded Wonder will be present at the launch mugging for the cameras

Bearded wonder Branson or bearded wonder platinumsage?

 

[bellaozzydog]

That’s fake news. It’s just a 747 take-off, of which there have been plenty before from UK soil. Some place over the Atlantic this one is going to drop a rocket which will then power up into space.

It is certainly not a rocket mission blasting off from Cornwall.

Olympic hair splitting team captain?

 

[Spymaster]

Launch now not scheduled until 22.54 but there should be a stream here:

Virgin Orbit Launch Schedule - RocketLaunch.Live

Live coverage and the most up-to-date schedule of all upcoming Virgin Orbit launches.

www.rocketlaunch.live

 

[Supine]

Is the plane taking off from a conveyor belt?

 

[2hats]

This has gone under the radar.

No it hasn't.

 

[Spymaster]

No it hasn't.

I didn't mean your radar!

 

[bellaozzydog]

The best bit is that there is a silent disco on the airfield to celebrate it

 

[Voley]

My other half is working on a stall there tonight if anyone's going. Look for two women promoting cosmic ray detectors.

Weather forecast's a bit iffy - she's taken every bit of warm clothing in the house.

 

[Voley]

She has a few choice words about the accuracy of that BBC article too.

 

[2hats]

Likely the only thing people in Cornwall will guarantee seeing naked eye is a 747 taking off from Newquay Airport then recovering a few hours later, as a front drives in from the WSW (though there could be fortuitous short gaps for some in the SW, or maybe the pace of progression of that front really slows in the coming hours). Thick cloud expected for folks in the south of Ireland too. The weather forecast sweet spot (such as it could be) might be somewhere inside a Gloucester-Oxford-Southampton-Exeter-Gloucester 'box' but even there building cloud layers threaten any viewing.

​

You would need to look very low to the western horizon (at/around and initially to the 'right', ie north, of Jupiter for most - if the suggested launch campaign timeline is adhered to), at the time of release/ignition and for 1-2 minutes thereafter, preferably with some decent binoculars scanning for an object initially climbing then flattening towards the horizon as it moves to the SW. It won't ever appear very high in the sky (always close to the horizon) as, whilst climbing to orbit it will also increasingly be moving downrange (SSW out over the Atlantic). The further east you are from the SW, the closer to the horizon you have to look in the local sky (to the point where either atmospheric extinction, cloud depth and/or local urban/vegetative clutter/topography preclude any viewing).

 

[T & P]

I believe I am right in saying that the further from the Equator a rocket is launched into space, the more energy/ fuel is required to put the payload into the desired orbit?

I guess it doesn’t matter that much with small payloads, but surely the same enterprise taking off from an airport much nearer the Equator, or at least flying south towards it as much as possible before launching the rocket would require less fuel or allow a higher payload?

 

[2hats]

Yes, but to sun-synch polar orbit (such as this) the advantage is diminished and it's largely immaterial if the mission trajectory energy demands are well within the launch vehicle performance envelope.

 

[Spymaster]

Still slated for 22.54:

Virgin Orbit Launch Schedule - RocketLaunch.Live

Live coverage and the most up-to-date schedule of all upcoming Virgin Orbit launches.

www.rocketlaunch.live

 

[Supine]

Yes, but to sun-synch polar orbit (such as this) the advantage is diminished and it's largely immaterial if the mission trajectory energy demands are well within the launch vehicle performance envelope.

That’s what i was thinking

 

[steveseagull]

Shall be watching this.
I think we should have a dedicated 'Space' forum. Space is much bigger than anything else.

 

[a_chap]

Space is much bigger than anything else.

Space is big.

You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.

 

[Karl Masks]

The only space mission I'm aware of blasting off from Cornwall is the Aphex Twin

 

[Aladdin]

The fishermen of the southwest of Ireland are not happy. They have to bring their boats back away from the bottle and it will take some time.
They're claiming loss of earnings and very little notice of potential debris falling.

They're a feisty bunch of fishermen. Took on Putin last year.

 

[Saunders]

Noisy helicopters, poor visibility, dog out barking. Could be rabbits or badgers or spacecraft or dastardly strangers

 

[Saunders]

Dog back in; think he just needed a pee

 

[bcuster]

Still slated for 22.54:

Virgin Orbit Launch Schedule - RocketLaunch.Live

Live coverage and the most up-to-date schedule of all upcoming Virgin Orbit launches.

www.rocketlaunch.live

I'll be watching! This could be the start of something BIG for UK!

 

[steveseagull]

Live feed deffo two mins or so behind Flight radar. Plus ditch the crap soft rock music lads.