What the failure of Virgin Orbit means for Britain’s space ambitions
And for the firm itself
It was a slightly desperate example of the spin-doctor’s art. “Historic UK mission reaches space, falls short of orbit,” read the press release from Virgin Orbit, a satellite-launch firm, on January 10th. The night before, in front of crowds of space enthusiasts braving the weather, a converted jumbo jet had taken off from Newquay Airport in Cornwall, in south-west England, to perform the first-ever space launch from British soil.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Newquay, we have a problem”
Britain January 14th 2023
- General practitioners are a big part of Britain’s health-care crisis
- How many excess deaths in England are associated with A&E delays?
- Prince Harry’s autobiography is an ill-advised romp
- Lower gas prices will provide only limited relief to Britons
- What the failure of Virgin Orbit means for Britain’s space ambitions
- The longed-for transformation of English farming isn’t happening
- British museums and galleries are dealing with the past, clumsily
From the January 14th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Has the Royal Navy become too timid?
A new paper examines how its culture has changed
A plan to reorganise local government in England runs into opposition
Turkeys vote against Christmas
David Lammy’s plan to shake up Britain’s Foreign Office
Diplomats will be tasked with growing the economy and cutting migration
Britain’s government has spooked markets and riled businesses
Tax rises were inevitable. Such a shaky start was not
Labour’s credibility trap
Who can believe Rachel Reeves?