#spaceport cornwall

[fhear]

Moon missions coming to Spaceport Cornwall!! New agreement signed!

[spacenutspod]

Isar Aerospace has announced the completion of static fires on both stage one and stage two of its new Spectrum rocket. The company now says the only thing standing between them and a launch is approval and licensing from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). On February 14, 2025, nine of the company’s Aquila engines, already integrated into the launch vehicle, fired for 30 seconds. This comes after the qualification of the vehicle’s single second stage engine in the third quarter of 2024. The company’s maiden launch will fly from its site at the Andøya Spaceport in Norway. Spectrum’s nine first stage engines and singular second stage engine use liquid oxygen and propane as propellant; a move that the company says produces cleaner propulsion that minimizes environmental impact. Designed, built and tested Pending regulatory approval, we are Go for flight. Read more: https://t.co/F4nmx0zyPO#fromisartospace pic.twitter.com/qHkmE9scvJ — Isar Aerospace (@isaraerospace) February 21, 2025 The engines, designed and manufactured in-house, are high-pressure turbopump-fed and are capable of launching 1,000 kg of payload to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and 700 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit. The primary payloads for the Spectrum launch vehicle are designed for small and medium satellites, according to Isar’s website, with a hope to become a primary way to launch satellite constellations, or groups of multiple satellites that operate together in orbit. See AlsoInternational launchers sectionCommercial spaceflight threadNSF storeClick here to join L2 The whole vehicle measures 28 m long with a diameter of two meters. For reference, Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is 1.2 m in diameter and stands 18 m tall. Spectrum’s maiden launch will mark the first private launch of an orbital-class rocket from continental Europe. Currently, Arianespace, a European company, launches from French Guiana in South America. A previous attempt at an orbital launch from Europe two years ago failed when Virgin Orbit, whose Boeing 747 departed from Spaceport Cornwall to air launch an under-wing mounted LauncherOne rocket from the skies over the UK, failed to reach orbit. The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after. Isar Aerospace CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Matzler acknowledged the significance of making European history: “By enabling space access from mainland Europe, we provide a critical resource for ensuring sovereignty and resilience.” Andøya is one of a few newly emerging spaceports within Europe. Along with the previously mentioned Cornwall, SaxaVord Spaceport — formerly the Shetland Space Centre — in Scotland is preparing to host launches from Germany-based Rocket Factory Ausburg and UK-based Orbex. The team has already completed all other pre-flight preparation milestones, including testing and accepting all in-house developed engines, the payload fairing, and the recently completed static fires. Isar Aerospace CTO and Co-Founder Josef Fleischmann noted in a statement that a significant part of their ability to proceed quickly to a launch date is Isar’s in-house work. “Owning the entire value chain of Spectrum gives us maximum flexibility and independence,” Fleischmann said. “We develop, build, and test almost the entire launch vehicle in-house, including our Aquila engines. The flight will be the first integrated test of tens of thousands of components.” According to the company’s website, the Spectrum vehicle is made using carbon composites, and some of its most complex parts are made using 3D printing. Isar states that using high-performance metals in those printers allows for design flexibility and quicker part production times. Furthermore, the company noted that the use of process automation will lead to faster manufacturing with even higher precision and accuracy. Spectrum first stage completes a static fire test ahead of maiden flight. (Credit: Isar Aerospace) Moreover, the company aims to provide a smooth ride for all payloads. This includes another in-house developed system that doesn’t use pyrotechnics to separate rocket elements while in flight. Eliminating pyrotechnics from Spectrum means less jolting to payloads during in-flight events like stage separation and fairing separation. Isar Aerospace, with its headquarters near Munich, Germany, was founded in 2018 with the goal of launching small and medium-sized satellites and on-orbit satellite constellations. The company offers dedicated flights to specified orbits and general rideshare missions where all payloads fly to the same pre-determined orbit. According to Isar, they employ over 400 people from over 50 nations and have facilities in five different international locations. While hopeful for a successful launch, Isar’s co-founders know the uncertainties of launching a rocket for the first time: “Regardless of how far we get, this first test flight will hopefully generate an enormous amount of data and experience which we can apply to future missions,” Fleischmann said. (Lead image: The first stage of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket completes a static fire test. Credit: Isar Aerospace) The post Isar Aerospace completes static fires of Spectrum rocket ahead of first European launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

A Sustainable Development Goal for space?

Scientists have called for the designation of a new United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) with the aim to conserve and sustainably use Earth's orbit, and prevent the accumulation of space junk.

There are currently 17 SDGs, adopted by UN members in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet for future generations, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

But with growing numbers of satellites and other objects now orbiting our planet, there is growing concern that, without some form of global consensus another of Earth's once pristine environments is at risk of being irrevocably changed.

Writing in the journal One Earth, an international collaboration of experts—in fields including satellite technology and ocean plastic pollution—have proposed an 18th SDG dedicated to the protection of Earth's orbit.

The study highlights that there are now around 100 nations involved in varying levels of space activity, and that since the 1950s, almost 20,000 satellites have been launched into Earth's orbit.

These satellites bring immense benefits to society, from monitoring ecosystems and supporting global communications, to facilitating services used by billions of people across the planet, such as satellite television and contactless bank card payments.

However, once they reach the end of their useful life, the experts say abandoned satellites, launch stages, and fragments resulting from explosions or collisions can accumulate as orbital debris. This raises the chance of collisions with active satellites, which would not only impact their ability to function but would also result in further increases in debris.

While a number of organizations have begun to recognize the need for action to address this, the authors say an additional SDG could deliver the global consensus and mechanisms for effective enforcement required to address the issue.

They believe a new SDG18 could draw direct inspiration from one of the existing goals—SDG14: Life Under Water—with lessons learned in marine debris management being used to prevent another planetary crisis before it is too late.

They also highlight that it would complement the existing SDGs, which include references to space technology for its ability to support improved understanding of global issues but not its potential to represent a future issue itself.

The article was co-authored by researchers from the University of Plymouth, PBL Works, Arribada Initiative, University of Auckland, The University of Texas at Austin, Anturus Ltd, University of Maine, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spaceport Cornwall, Slingshot Aerospace Ltd, and ZSL (Zoological Society of London).

It builds on an article published in Science in March 2023, in which a number of the same scientists called for a legally-binding treaty to ensure that Earth's orbit isn't irreparably harmed by the future expansion of the global space industry.

Dr. Imogen Napper, Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, led the new study. She said, "The need to protect and connect our natural environments, from the ocean to Earth's orbit, has never been more urgent. Both are vital to the health of our planet, yet increasingly under threat from the pressures we place on them.

"There is growing recognition that marine litter knows no international boundaries, and the same applies to space debris. A UN-backed agreement would be a crucial step in safeguarding Earth's orbit for the future."

Professor Heather Koldewey, ZSL's Head of Ocean and FAIRER Conservation, said, "Just like plastic pollution and climate change, space junk is an issue that transcends borders. Our ongoing efforts to protect the ocean highlight just how important UN-backed agreements are for managing this crisis. It's key we learn from the challenges and solutions in tackling marine debris and act now to protect our planet's orbit."

Dr. Thomas Dowling, Lecturer in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Science at The University of Auckland, said, "Not so long ago, our oceans were regarded as infinite resources to plunder and infinite sinks for our waste.

"We now know that view was grossly mistaken—many marine environments are now barren wastelands and more than eight million tonnes of plastic debris is estimated to enter the ocean every year. Earth's orbit is a similar finite environment to the ocean, and mindlessly exploiting the orbital environment is repeating the mistakes of the past.

It's time to create policies to regulate what we're putting in space, and we need to ensure objects entering orbit are safe, sustainable, and serving essential—or at least important—purposes for significant numbers of people around the world."

Melissa Quinn, General Manager of the International Business Unit at Slingshot Aerospace, added, "The proposed 18th Sustainable Development Goal is a crucial step toward protecting Earth's orbit for future generations.

"Space is essential to our daily lives, from global communications to understanding climate change, yet the rapid rise in satellite deployments—2,877 in 2023 alone (~15% increase from 2022), with even more in 2024—has led to an increasing risk of collisions and debris.

"In 2024, we saw a 17% year-over-year spike in the average number of close approaches in low earth orbit per satellite on Slingshot Beacon, Slingshot's space traffic coordination application. With over 12,500 spacecraft now orbiting our planet, including more than 3,300 inactive satellites, we need urgent, coordinated global action to ensure space is safe, sustainable, and secure.

"This SDG offers a powerful opportunity to safeguard the benefits of space for all humanity."

[fmp2marklindsay]

Spaceport Cornwall

Spaceport cornwall is located at Cornwall Airport Newquay and is the first place in the UK to be given a space port license there are few others within the uk that also have the ability to launch vertical rockets

[sudden-stops-kill]

virgin orbit

[techalphanews]

UK’s first space launch will go ahead at Spaceport Cornwall as licence awarded

UK’s first space launch will go ahead at Spaceport Cornwall as licence awarded

THE UK’s first space launch will go ahead at Spaceport Cornwall after a licence was awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority.The converted airport in Newquay was granted the licence by reg Read Full Text

[watford-herts-london]

US and UK to launch new era of spaceflight

US and UK to launch new era of spaceflight

Lift-off moment for UK-US spaceflight as Transport Secretary makes landmark declaration in WashingtonPartnership to cut red tape, making commercial launches from both countries easier and more streamlined Comes as UK prepares for first satellite launch from home soil this year, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs  Future spaceflight will be made easier and cheaper, following a landmark…

[princessanneftw]

Princess Anne visiting the Goonhilly Earth Station and Spaceport Cornwall to meet the team behind Virgin Orbit Launch Me Up mission, which will launch the UK’s first ever satellite, on 21 October 2022 🚀

[grandmaster-anne]

21 October 2022 The Princess Royal visited Spaceport Cornwall’s integration facility at Cornwall Airport Newquay, St Mawgan, Newquay. 📸: Gemma Lessinger

[anne-and-tim-laurence]

HRH Princess Anne visits Spaceport Cornwall ahead of UK's first ever satellite launch on 21 October 2022

[1-ufo]

Me: starts writing first drafts of exogenesis fic in 2010ish

-puts a space port in Cornwall

-imagine it does suborbital flight

-partnered with Richard Bransons virgin galactic

2022: spaceport in Cornwall opens

2023: first virgin orbit flight due to launch tonight.

[willcodehtmlforfood]

Boris Johnson erased from Grant Shapps spaceport picture - BBC News

[tinymoonwinner]

Cornwall Space Port - A Vertical Launch

For those who enjoy exploring, Cornwall's Cornwall spaceport is one of the best places to go. This popular tourist destination has everything needed by visitors to create their perfect holiday. From enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of a beautiful coastal environment to sampling some of the finest wines in the world, this delightful little town offers something for everyone. While visitors can head to Cornwall and enjoy everything that the spaceport center has to offer, there are other activities to choose from as well. In addition, you can also visit the skyrora rocket and also see the scale of another aerospace company from Edinburgh. This company has a separate engine testing center, so the tour is really exciting.

The Cornwall spaceport is located right in the heart of Cornwall. From here, visitors can take a short train ride, hop on a bus, or even ride a bicycle to visit other parts of Cornwall that are just as fascinating. The Cornwall racetrack features a wide range of activities for all ages. Whether young or old, families can have a good time exploring the scenic countryside, while also getting a taste of what the Cornwall area has to offer visitors.

Visitors can take a train ride to the spaceport from the Cornwall International terminal. Here, they can learn about the history of the newquay and hear about the many different activities available at the newquay airport. After this excursion, visitors can then continue on to explore Cornwall's capital city of Burnham-on-Sea. Here, they can visit Cornwall's famous galleries, art museums, and coastal architecture at Old Town, or take a day trip to the town's premiere museum, the Museum of Cornwall.

Other attractions can be found around the Cornwall spaceport as well. One of these includes a small satellite which is launched from the spaceport on a mission to study the atmosphere around it. The satellite is designed to study different aspects of the local climate, which can be useful for weather predictions in the future. The Cornwall-based scientists' satellite will help foretell the rain that may fall on the region, which could be useful for businesses. The University of Cornwall has also signed a deal with one of the satellite manufacturers to launch a number of small satellites around the spaceport every few months. These small satellites will help improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, while simultaneously providing valuable information about the atmosphere around the small satellite.

Additionally, the spaceport launch will allow scientists to study the effects of space travel on the global climate. This will give an important insight into how different space missions impact our planet. In doing so, it can help plan future space exploration missions. This is particularly helpful because it will allow scientists to better predict how various missions may change the world's environment in the future. Ultimately, the Cornwall spaceport launch will demonstrate the usefulness of Cornwall's unique atmosphere as a launching site for small satellites.

Although this may seem like a small step towards fulfilling Cornwall's industrial strategy, it shows that the spaceport project at Cornwall is making progress. It will allow more industries to tap into this valuable resource, allowing Cornwall to benefit financially and scientifically. As such, the Cornwall spaceport launch is set to be an important step in proving the viability of this vital agricultural centre. Ultimately, it will be a great boost to Cornwall's economy, as well as helping make this beautiful county even more beautiful. For more information regarding the upcoming launch, all you need to do is visit the Cornwall spacepost website today.

[spaceexp]

From airport to spaceport as UK targets horizontal spaceflight

London, UK (SPX) May 23, 2019 Future spaceports can apply for a share of 2 million pounds to support plans for small satellite launch from aircraft and sub-orbital flight from the UK, Science Minister Chris Skidmore announced Wednesday. Sites such as Newquay in Cornwall, Campbeltown and Glasgow Prestwick in Scotland, and Snowdonia in Wales are already developing their sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane Full article

[worldspotlightnews]

Virgin Orbit extends unpaid pause as Brown deal collapses, 'dynamic' talks continue

NEWQUAY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: A general view of Cosmic Girl, a Boeing 747-400 aircraft carrying the LauncherOne rocket under its left wing, as final preparations are made at Cornwall Airport Newquay on January 9, 2023 in Newquay, United Kingdom. Virgin Orbit launches its LauncherOne rocket from the spaceport in Cornwall, marking the first ever orbital launch from the UK. The mission has been…

[spacetodaypt]

Cornwall space launch: why the environmental cost of rocket launches is large even when they fail

A recent UK mission to launch satellites into space from Spaceport Cornwall in the west of England failed to deliver the satellites to orbit. But the rocket, LauncherOne, succeeded in releasing hazardous pollutants to the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere where many will remain for years.The mission kickstarted a new era of UK-based rocket launches and is part of the space sector’s global…