Launching a rocket usually takes place from a well-known launch site such as Cape Canaveral (USA), Baikonoer (Kazakhstan) or Kourou (French Guiana). On Monday it will be the turn of Western Europe for the first time. The satellites are launched south of Ireland over the Atlantic Ocean. Its glow can also be seen from the Netherlands, looking southwest.
The mission is being conducted by Virgin Orbit, a space company owned by businessman Richard Branson. With another company, Virgin Galactic, he is trying to sell tourist flights in space. During such a flight, astronauts find themselves in an aircraft suspended under an aircraft. Together they take off and in the air the plane drops the spacecraft. Then the rocket engines ignite and the launch begins.
This is how the first satellite launch should go on Monday. A Boeing 747 named Cosmic Girl is scheduled to take off in southwest England at around 11.16pm (Dutch time). Over the Atlantic Ocean must launch a missile, the LauncherOne. It could happen around midnight. The missile then flies south to Spain and Portugal. LauncherOne contains nine satellites from seven customers. That payload must be delivered into orbit around the Earth.
Residents of Zeeland are expected to be the first to see the launch. About five minutes into the mission, the rocket should emerge above the horizon. In the next few minutes, the rest of the country should be able to see the launch as well, as long as clouds and tall buildings don’t get in the way.
That mission is called Start me, on a song by the Rolling Stones. That band has released albums in the past on Virgin Records, the record company Branson started.
