Marine Management Organisation
Details
Virgin Orbit propose to undertake two horizontal satellite launches per year from Spaceport Cornwall (at Cornwall Airport Newquay) until 2030.
The launch system, assessed for the purposes of the Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE), consists of a modified Boeing 747 aircraft, carrying an air launched two stage rocket under its wing. The carrier aircraft will travel to an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet where the rocket is released, its engine fired, and it then ascends to the desired orbit where the satellite payload is released. The trajectory begins with the release of the rocket west of the UK and southwest of Ireland and continues south-southwest over the Atlantic Ocean, where the rockets Stage 1 section and payload fairings will be jettisoned and deposited into Portuguese waters, and the satellite payloads will be released into orbit.
Virgin Orbit proposes to conduct a maximum of one launch in 2022 and approximately two launches per year over the next 8 years (January 2023 December 2030) from Spaceport Cornwall.
The MMO and the CAA carried out joint public consultation on the following aspects of the activities.
For the purposes of the marine licence application, Virgin Orbit applied to undertake one satellite launch in 2022.
For the purposes of the launch operator licence, Virgin Orbit applied to undertake two satellite launches per year until 2030.
Marine Licence application
As the material to be deposited will be loaded in the UK, the activity requires a Marine Licence from the Marine Management Organisation, as required by The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, Part 4, Section 66 (1) item 3 to carry out a deposit into the sea.
Copies of the Marine Licence issued and associated information may be viewed online in the MMO public register by entering case reference MLA/2022/00134.
MMO public consultation
The public consultation on the marine licence application ran from 22 July to 19 August 2022.
Decision
MMO worked with primary advisers, interested parties and members of the public during the consultation period to ensure any potential impacts were considered and appropriately assessed. Subsequently, a marine licence was issued on 24 October 2022.
Further information
Launch operator and spaceport licence applications
To carry out spaceflight activities in the UK launch operators and spaceport operators must be licensed by the CAA, as required by section 3 of the Space Industry Act 2018 (SIA).
Section 11 of the SIA requires the applicants of launch operator and spaceport licences to submit an Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) as part of their licence applications. The purpose of the AEE is to ensure that applicants have considered the potential environmental effects of their intended activities and, if necessary, taken (or identified) proportionate steps to avoid, mitigate or offset the risks and their potential effects. The CAA must take the AEE into account when deciding whether to grant a licence (and on what conditions).
CAA Public Consultation
Virgin Orbit (as part of its launch operator licence application) and Spaceport Cornwall (as part of its spaceport licence application) have produced a joint AEE. The CAA has made the AEE available for public comment. More information on the consultation and a copy of the AEE is available on the CAA website