Rocket Launch fail

By Niamh McDermott
The first satellite mission to launch from British soil has failed. A jumbo jet operated by US company Virgin Orbit has carried a rocket from Newquay, Cornwall, over the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket launched and appeared to ascend correctly, but then news came from the company that there was an “abnormality” in the rocket. The carried satellites cannot be released and are lost. The aircraft carrier “Cosmic Girl” returned to the base safely. The mission has been hailed as a major milestone for the UK space industry and marked the birth of the home-grown launch industry. The goal is to make the country a global player – from satellite manufacturing to rocket construction and construction of new spaceports. UK Space Agency deputy chief executive Ian Annette said it showed “how difficult” getting to orbit actually and also said “We get up, we go back, we try again, that’s what defines us.” More launches are expected in the next 12 months.