Virgin Orbit plans to expand its liftoffs to the U.K. after three consecutive successful launches from California earlier this year.
The company announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch for the first time this summer from Spaceport Cornwall in the western U.K.
The mission will launch a satellite for Space Forge, a Welsh startup that specializes in in-space manufacturing. According to the companies, the upcoming flight will be the first orbital mission ever launched from the United Kingdom, as well as the first to carry a satellite developed in Wales.
"We're thrilled to be making UK history with our first launch," Space Forge CEO Joshua Western said in Wednesday's statement.
Space Forge plans to test a new mini-space manufacturing plant named ForgeStar, which will strive to return products manufactured in space to Earth once operational.
Virgin Orbit launches satellites into space using a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft called Cosmic Girl, which carries a rocket called LauncherOne beneath its wing.
The 70-foot-long (21-meter) LauncherOne, which can launch up to 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) per mission, has an edge over typical vertically launched rockets, according to Virgin Orbit, since air-launched missions are more responsive and flexible.
Virgin Orbit's debut orbital test launch in May 2020 failed after a fuel line in the rocket's first stage burst.
During a test flight named Launch Demo, the company, which is part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, sought to launch its LauncherOne rocket into orbit for the first time. However, shortly after LauncherOne and Cosmic Girl parted ways, something went wrong.
Cosmic Girl and LauncherOne have flown together many times on "captive carry" tests, and the plane has even discharged the rocket once before, in July of last year during an unpowered drop test. Launch Demo, on the other hand, was the first time the new rocket took to the air.
In 2021 and 2022, the company bounced back with three successful launches in a row.
Virgin Orbit announced in January that it expects to launch five additional flights in 2022, including two from Spaceport Cornwall. The other three will take off from Mojave Air and Space Port, which has served as the launch site for all previous Virgin Orbit missions.
"The Cornwall launches are targeted around the middle of the year - summertime," Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said during a media call on Jan. 11.
Virgin Orbit is also looking for new launch venues. Guam, Japan, and Brazil are among the early choices, with Australia offering more long-term prospects, and "several European countries, as well as countries in other areas," the company said.
