Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit has announced they are selling their assets and will cease operations months after a mission failure in the UK.
The announcement comes just months after the first ever space launch from UK soil, which took off successfully but failed to reach orbit.
This saw a modified Boeing 747 Cosmic Girl take off from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, carrying with it the rocket LauncherOne and nine satellites.
The aim had been to release the rocket over the Atlantic, which would then launch the satellites into orbit, but while the rocket reached space and successfully completed the first phase burn, it was unable to reach orbit due to the second stage burn shutting down prematurely.
Last week Melissa Quinn, the Head of Spaceport Cornwall, announced she would be leaving her position at the end of this month.
In a statement, the “responsive space launch provider” said: “(Our) legacy in the space industry will forever be remembered. Its ground-breaking technologies, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unwavering commitment to advancing the frontiers of air launch have left an indelible mark on the industry.”
The California-based company will sell its assets to four winning bidders.
“As Virgin Orbit embarks on this path, the management and employees would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders, including customers, partners, investors, and employees, for their support and dedication over the years,” the statement said.
Virgin Orbit said in March they would cut 85% of their workforce after failing to secure new investment. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US in April.
Founded in 2017, the company developed rockets to carry satellites.
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But the group, which was listed in New York in 2021, has struggled for profitability and been weighed down by its significant debt pile.
As of September, the company had debts of 153.5 million dollars (£123 million).
In January, the group had sought to complete the first satellite launch from UK soil, with hopes the mission would be a major stepping stone for space exploration from the UK.
The firm’s LauncherOne rocket failed to reach orbit and saw its payload of US and UK intelligence satellites dive into the ocean.
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