US space agency Virgin Orbit successfully launched seven satellites to the low Earth orbit for the fourth consecutive launch mission and first one conducted in the night. The mission, named ‘Straight Up’ began on July 1, at 10:50 PM local time and concluded on July 2, 12:55 AM with the successful launch of all seven payloads. A collaborative effort between several government agencies, the mission will demonstrate new spacecraft technologies, approaches for satellite applications, and Earth atmospheric science.
The billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s company will have its next international launch at the Space Port Cornwall in UK. A collaboration with the Royal Air force, it would be the first ever orbital launch from the UK soil. It had always been the Virgin Group entrepreneur’s intention to move operations across the Atlantic. Till now all four of Virgin Orbit’s successful satellite launches have been from California’s Mojave spaceport.
