On January 9th, the UK Space Agency launched its first rocket from UK soil ever. They achieved this with Virgin Orbit. It was destined to be a monumental feat in UK engineering. But what went so wrong?
On the night of the launch, Cosmic Girl (the Boeing 747 carrying the rocket), lifted the Launcher spacecraft high above the clouds, where it would soon meet its fate.
After take off, cosmic girl lifted her payload high above the ocean to ideally drop the rocket and allow it to ignite its large engines into orbit. Shortly after drop, the rocket unfortunately encountered an anomaly in the upper segment of the rocket. The rocket’s second engine failed to ignite with its full potential, dooming the mission. The rocket later fell back down to Earth, while the plane was returned safely back to the UK.
Squadron Leader Mathew Stannard, who also happened to be a former red arrows pilot, flew Cosmic Girl from Cornwall, over the sea and back to the UK on solid ground. Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, Ian Annett told the BBC, “It showed how difficult getting into orbit actually was.”
In 1959, the UK government began a new agency under their wing: UK Space. UK Space launched its first rocket in 1969, from foreign soil, called Black Arrow. This was their Ariel group of satellites which were made to study Earth’s atmospheric features. Has it been successful in the past?
Out of five launches only two were successful. This has not had a positive impact on international views on the UK’s rocket capabilities. This launch has been monumental to the UK as no rocket had been launched from the UK, and it is a commercial flight. Commercial flights have been a growing industry recently and this mission may prove yet again that commercial flights could be the way forward.
Many question the cost of space exploration. As Robin Hanbury Tenison, an explorer based in Cornwall, puts it: “Investing in further scientific exploration of space is a waste of resources”. An argument for space exploration is: the hundreds of millions of pounds are being put towards examining our atmosphere and finding better solutions for our future. So, is it all worth it?
The history of the programme suggests that it is not, but the morals behind may say otherwise. The space agency’s satellites focus on controlling climate change and righting wrongs. Many may say that launching a rocket to help with fixing climate change is counter-intuitive, due to the large amount of green-house-gasses coming from the engine.
Overall, the UK space agency has had a great chance at achieving but just fell short. Hopefully their next mission shall redeem the UK from previous failures.
By Max and Austin
Carres Grammar School Newsroom
Can’t wait for the next launch!
I do often think how can they know where it would land if/should it fail surely the time of failure could offer many variables? What if it were to strike residential land?
We watched the launch online and spotted the ‘anomaly’ happening. Resolving mistakes and learning from them is key to progress. Onwards and upwards!
Great analysis in here, good work! Fingers crossed it goes better next time!
Great max
Seems a very expensive failure on this occasion! Hopefully future endeavours are more successful. Lovely article.
Interesting article Max and Austin! You raise a number of really important points about the future of the UK space industry.
You have researched this mission thoroughly and it is to your credit that you are showing sound understanding of the space industry in the UK. Well done
Well researched and well written article. The whole rocket story was really something, such a shame that it malfunctioned.
Shame it failed, but as they say, onward on upwards! Hopefully the next time will have a different result. Really enjoyed reading the article. It was well written and well thought out.
Very interesting, well written and well informed article. Gave me a better insight and understanding of the UK’s space industry.
Well done
Great job Max and Austin 👍
amazing max and austin
Very interesting
Well written article Max & Austin. Hopefully the next one you write about is a success.
What a well written article. Well done to both boys. Will look forward to the next subject.
Thank you for all the comments!
Good job 🕺🕺
Approved 👍
Brilliantly written, and interesting article with some stimulating points made.
This was the first one I read and it has been my favourite. Well done Austin and Max I look forward to seeing your next article.
Definitely a thought provoking article. Great job chaps, really enjoyed reading it.