NEWQUAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM: VIRGIN ORBIT'S LAUNCHER ONE SUFFERS AN ANOMALY DURING LAUNCH

It looks like LauncherOne suffered what Virgin Orbit describe as an "anomaly" during its ascent into space to deploy 9 small satellite's. 

What was to be the UK's first orbital rocket, took the skies attached to its 'mother ship', a former passenger 747 which has been modified to be used as a high altitude launch platform.

Launch was successful and it was reported that the second stage first burn was nominal, with Virgin Orbit declaring that the payload had achieved orbit, however the claim via a tweet was taken down once it was realised this not to be the case. The second stage was due to make a secondary burn but it is unknown if that burn was made or if it was the point of failure.

Sadly it seems that the rocket malfunctioned during a coast phase of its trajectory, resulting in the loss of both the rocket and the payloads it was carrying.

Virgin Orbit confirmed the failure via Twitter:

Quote

"We appear to have an anomaly that has prevented us from reaching orbit. We are evaluating the information."

There were muted cheers as Cosmic Girl made its return to the runway at Space Port Cornwall within Newquay Airport.

The cause of the failure has not been released by Virgin Orbit so far.