People look at the Virgin Orbit Launcher One rocket at Spaceport Cornwall. Getty
People look at the Virgin Orbit Launcher One rocket at Spaceport Cornwall. Getty
People look at the Virgin Orbit Launcher One rocket at Spaceport Cornwall. Getty
People look at the Virgin Orbit Launcher One rocket at Spaceport Cornwall. Getty

World

UK

Spaceport Cornwall welcomes 'huge intake' of UK businesses hoping to seize opportunities

The complex at Newquay Airport will host Britain's first satellite launch this summer

Laura O'Callaghan
Laura O'Callaghan

July 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

British manufacturers specialising in the space sector and other industries are flocking to Spaceport Cornwall to seize unprecedented opportunities before the UK’s maiden horizontal satellite launch.

Excitement is building with only weeks to go until Virgin Orbit’s Launcher One takes off from the airport in south-west England, carried on the wing of a modified Boeing 747 aircraft named Cosmic Girl.

Melissa Thorpe, chief executive of Spaceport Cornwall, at Newquay Airport, said her team is looking beyond the first satellite launch with a vision to become an international space transportation centre. Companies specialising in technology have shown a keen interest to get in on the action.

“We’re really close now to the first ever launch," she said during a discussion on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow. "It’s all systems go literally here.

“We’re using satellites very much as a catalyst to attract other technologies, other businesses, whether they’re space or not, to come and be part of the story and be part of that journey.

“What we’re seeing already is a huge intake of that. Something that we thought might happen five years after our launch is happening now before we’ve even had that first launch. While we were somewhat worried in the pandemic [to see] where the market was going to go, we’ve seen quite the opposite. We’ve seen a lot of interest in getting involved and that’s something that we’re working on really hard now, making sure they have what they need onsite to enable them in the future.”

Visitors watch a RAF F-35 aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, southern England. Reuters
Visitors watch a RAF F-35 aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, southern England. Reuters
An Airbus SE A350 aircraft lands after an aerial display. Bloomberg
An Airbus SE A350 aircraft lands after an aerial display. Bloomberg
An Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, used by Brazil's Airforce, on display. AFP
An Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, used by Brazil's Airforce, on display. AFP
A detailed view of a Pratt & Whitney PW123 engine. Reuters
A detailed view of a Pratt & Whitney PW123 engine. Reuters
The RAF's Red Arrows aerobatics team perform. AP
The RAF's Red Arrows aerobatics team perform. AP
Visitors shelter from the sun as they look around the show. AP
Visitors shelter from the sun as they look around the show. AP
An Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. AFP
An Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. AFP
Visitors look at a model of the Wisk Aero autonomous aircraft. AP
Visitors look at a model of the Wisk Aero autonomous aircraft. AP
A member of staff shelters from the sun. AP
A member of staff shelters from the sun. AP
Attendees walk past a poster of a Boom Supersonic concept Overture aircraft. AFP
Attendees walk past a poster of a Boom Supersonic concept Overture aircraft. AFP
A US Air Force F-35A fighter jet on display. Bloomberg
A US Air Force F-35A fighter jet on display. Bloomberg
A model of proposed jet fighter aircraft Tempest, a joint programme by a consortium known as 'Team Tempest', which includes Britain's Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo SPA, MBDA and Saab. AFP
A model of proposed jet fighter aircraft Tempest, a joint programme by a consortium known as 'Team Tempest', which includes Britain's Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo SPA, MBDA and Saab. AFP
Visitors watch the Embraer E2 Profit Hunter plane taking off. AFP
Visitors watch the Embraer E2 Profit Hunter plane taking off. AFP
An Aksungur drone, manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries, on display. Bloomberg
An Aksungur drone, manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries, on display. Bloomberg
An Airbus A350 plane flying over the crowds at Farnborough. AFP
An Airbus A350 plane flying over the crowds at Farnborough. AFP
Soldiers pose beside a Leonardo helicopter. AP
Soldiers pose beside a Leonardo helicopter. AP
An aviation enthusiast shelters from the sun at the show. Temperatures were forecast to reach 40°C in parts of England. Bloomberg
An aviation enthusiast shelters from the sun at the show. Temperatures were forecast to reach 40°C in parts of England. Bloomberg
A model of a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine. This is the first Farnborough in four years, due to the pandemic. Bloomberg
A model of a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine. This is the first Farnborough in four years, due to the pandemic. Bloomberg
A Boeing 737-9 puts on a display at Farnborough. Bloomberg
A Boeing 737-9 puts on a display at Farnborough. Bloomberg
Visitors examine water barrels in a Boeing 777X, in an experiment on weight distribution. AFP
Visitors examine water barrels in a Boeing 777X, in an experiment on weight distribution. AFP
An aviation fan uses a fan to keep cool amid soaring temperatures. Bloomberg
An aviation fan uses a fan to keep cool amid soaring temperatures. Bloomberg
A worker keeps a GulfStream Aerospace Corp G650 business jet gleaming. Bloomberg
A worker keeps a GulfStream Aerospace Corp G650 business jet gleaming. Bloomberg
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tours Farnborough, a vital marketplace for the country's aviation industry. AP
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tours Farnborough, a vital marketplace for the country's aviation industry. AP
Visitors board a Boeing 777X. Deals worth £161 billion ($192bn) were agreed the last time Farnborough was held, organisers said. AFP
Visitors board a Boeing 777X. Deals worth £161 billion ($192bn) were agreed the last time Farnborough was held, organisers said. AFP
Boris Johnson views the display by SaxaVord, the UK Spaceport. PA
Boris Johnson views the display by SaxaVord, the UK Spaceport. PA
More than 80,000 visitors from 96 countries are expected to attend this week's five-day event. Bloomberg
More than 80,000 visitors from 96 countries are expected to attend this week's five-day event. Bloomberg

Ms Thorpe said Spaceport Cornwall takes its responsibility seriously, given that spaceports are a gateway to the international realm, and stressed that the UK must make sustainability the cornerstone of its agenda if it is to be recognised in the international space domain.

At the end of August Virgin Orbit, a group led by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, will use the small airport in Cornwall as a take-off point for its microsatellite. The Kernow Sat 1, a satellite designed and made in Cornwall, will be propelled into space.

The mission aims to examine damage to the Earth caused by climate change, including mapping deforestation and tree planting, coastal erosion and the level of plastic pollution in oceans.

The UK’s first orbital launch has generated a huge amount of excitement in the space industry and offered hopes of new opportunities for the country.

Paul Cremin, commercial spaceflight regulations and policy lead at the UK’s Department for Transport, said Britain recently published its regulatory framework for commercial spaceflight activities, which he said has “allowed immense interest and opportunities for commercial business to exploit the area of space for the purposes of commercialisation and economic growth”.

Speaking at a virtual session alongside Ms Thorpe at Farnborough, Mr Cremin said Britain looks set to attract business from across the Atlantic.

“We are already seeing US operators seeking to operate outside of the US and into the UK,” he said.

He said recent issues such as freight being held up at ports had highlighted the challenges posed to sea transport which could be avoided by space transportation.

“We live in a day where we want things now,” he said. “We don’t want things [in] two weeks’ time, we want them now, we want them [to be] accessible.”

He said the UK must work out how to integrate commercial spaceflight safely into its existing spaceflight system and said there was also a need for a set of common international safety standards.

“We may operate in space but we have to travel through complex airspace in some areas and back through complex airspace to deliver those benefits that everybody is so much looking forward to,” he said. “So there will be challenges about maintaining safety, maintaining a flexible operating mantra in terms of how we safely integrate this in a very complex and diverse aviation and space environment.”

Dr George Nield, chairman of the Global Spaceport Alliance said point-to-point transportation through space “looks like it is right around the corner”. However, he said there were challenges on the road to developing such a capability.

“What we are talking about is high-speed long-distance transportation initially for cargo, but eventually for people, that will allow us to travel from any point on Earth to the opposite side of the planet in just an hour or two,” he explained. “We believe that such a capability will be a real game-changer, not only for national security missions but also for economic competitiveness.”

Whiile you're here
While you're here
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Towering concerns
Traces%20of%20Enayat
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Iman%20Mersal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20And%20Other%20Stories%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
School uniforms report
Hotel Data Cloud profile

Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

CHELSEA SQUAD

Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku. 

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Liz%20Truss
%3Cp%3EMinisterial%20experience%3A%20Current%20Foreign%20Secretary.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DWhat%20did%20she%20do%20before%20politics%3F%20Worked%20as%20an%20economist%20for%20Shell%20and%20Cable%20and%20Wireless%20and%20was%20then%20a%20deputy%20director%20for%20right-of-centre%20think%20tank%20Reform.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DWhat%20does%20she%20say%20on%20tax%3F%20She%20has%20pledged%20to%20%22start%20cutting%20taxes%20from%20day%20one%22%2C%20reversing%20April's%20rise%20in%20National%20Insurance%20and%20promising%20to%20keep%20%22corporation%20tax%20competitive%22.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

List of alleged parties
  • May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
  • 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
  • Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson 
  • Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
  • Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters 
  • Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
  • Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party 
Saudi National Day
Habtoor interview
BRAZIL SQUAD

Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).

Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%202%2C%20v%20Sri%20Lanka%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%204%2C%20v%20India%3Cbr%3EWed%20Oct%205%2C%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EFri%20Oct%207%2C%20v%20Thailand%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%209%2C%20v%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%2011%2C%20v%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EChaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Natasha%20Cherriath%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Rishitha%20Rajith%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Mahika%20Gaur%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
If you go...

Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.

HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

Ain Issa camp:
  • Established in 2016
  • Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
  • Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
  • Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
  • 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
  • NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
  • One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.8%22%20edge%20quad-HD%2B%20dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%20Infinity-O%2C%203088%20x%201440%2C%20500ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204nm%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%2064-bit%20octa-core%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%20RAM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%2F1TB%20(only%20128GB%20has%20an%208GB%20RAM%20option)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20quad%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20f%2F2.2%20%2B%20200MP%20wide%20f%2F1.7%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%20f%2F4.9%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%202.4%3B%203x%2F10x%20optical%20zoom%2C%20Space%20Zoom%20up%20to%20100x%3B%20auto%20HDR%2C%20expert%20RAW%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024%2F30fps%2C%204K%4060fps%2C%20full-HD%4060fps%2C%20HD%4030fps%2C%20full-HD%20super%20slo-mo%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20f%2F2.2%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205000mAh%2C%20fast%20wireless%20charging%202.0%2C%20Wireless%20PowerShare%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%2C%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.2%2C%20NFC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3B%20built-in%20Galaxy%20S%20Pen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESIM%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20single%20nano%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20cream%2C%20green%2C%20lavender%2C%20phantom%20black%3B%20online%20exclusives%3A%20graphite%2C%20lime%2C%20red%2C%20sky%20blue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh4%2C949%20for%20256GB%2C%20Dh5%2C449%20for%20512GB%2C%20Dh6%2C449%20for%201TB%3B%20128GB%20unavailable%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh400%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: July 18, 2022, 5:00 PM
UKSpace