UK’s first-ever rocket launch ends in failure

Britain’s attempt to become the first European nation to launch satellites into space ended in bitter disappointment when Virgin Orbit said its rocket had suffered an anomaly that prevented it from reaching orbit

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“We appear to have an anomaly that has prevented us from reaching orbit,” the company said. “We are evaluating the information.”
The failure deals a further blow to European space ambitions after an Italian-built Vega-C rocket mission failed after lift-off from French Guiana in late December.
Europe has suffered a series of setbacks in the past year, with its key Ariane 6 launcher delayed, access to Russian Soyuz rockets blocked by the Ukraine conflict, Vega grounded and now a showcase launch for the burgeoning small launcher industry abandoned.
“Over the coming days there will be an investigation by the government and various bodies, including Virgin Orbit,” Matt Archer, Commercial Space Director at the UK Space Agency said.
Virgin Orbit (VORB.O), part-owned by British billionaire Richard Branson, had planned to deploy nine small satellites into lower Earth orbit (LEO) in its first mission outside its United States base.
A mission failure would be the second in Virgin Orbit’s history since its first launch in 2020. 

Based on the materials of www.reuters.com