When the U.K. launches its first-ever orbital rocket launch on Monday night, space enthusiasts will have the chance to live stream the event.
The Virgin Orbit rocket is expected to be deployed over the Atlantic, carrying nine small satellites into orbit. A modified Boeing 747 plane, named “Cosmic Girl,” will depart from Spaceport Cornwall in southwest England around 10 p.m. local time.
At approximately 35,000 feet, the rocket will be released over the ocean in what is known as a horizontal launch. The cost-efficient method will allow the U.K. to explore space while spending less than other countries.
“It’s a horizontal launch, and that gives them a lot of flexibility to target a specific orbit to launch from locations where it usually wouldn’t be possible to. And that’s what’s enabling actually the U.K. to have this scrappy deployment capability very effectively,” Rafel Siquier, CEO of Open Cosmos, told CNBC.
A live stream for the event will be available on the Virgin Orbit YouTube page.
Although the event is taking place in the evening for those in the U.K., U.S. viewers will need to tune in earlier. Virgin Orbit has listed start viewing times as 1:15pm PT/4:15pm ET on its live stream page.
The Daily Mail reports the LauncherOne rocket is set to be dropped between 10:54 pm and 11:54 p.m. U.K. local time and and it makes it ascent in the direction of Portugal.
Those in the U.K. and Ireland will be able to look up to the skies and see the LauncherOne within 60 seconds of ignition. However, residents in Spain, France, and Portugal will be able to view the rocket within up to three minutes.
Among the satellites that will be sent to space is the Open Cosmos’ DOVER Pathfinder satellite, which is expected to demonstrate new navigation capabilities. Other satellites onboard include technology from Oman focused on Earth observation and satellites from various U.K. and U.S. government departments.
In the case of any unexpected occurrences that prevent the launch, Virgin Orbit has set back-up dates for Jan. 13, 15, 18, 19, and 20.
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