‘It’s really happening’: tears of joy as space mission nears Cornwall launch

theguardian.com:

The notion of a space mission being launched from a nondescript corner of a Cornish airport – next to the bus depot actually – has attracted its fair share of scepticism over the years.

But the impressive touchdown in north Cornwall this week of a Boeing 747 converted to carry a rocket primed to propel satellites into space may have silenced even the most hardened doubters.

Within a few weeks the 747 is due to take off from Spaceport Cornwall, soar to 35,000ft and release the rocket that will whiz nine satellites into orbit –the first satellite launch from UK soil.

“Yes – it’s really happening,” said Flight Lieutenant Matthew “Stanny” Stannard, an RAF test pilot seconded to the Virgin Orbit mission, as he stretched after flying the 747 from the Mojave desert in California to the rather chillier Cornwall Airport Newquay.

“It was a nice trip. It gave us a chance to think about what we’re involved in. We’re not just a 747. We’re the first stage of a rocket launch system.”

He pointed to the Spaceport Cornwall hangar. “There are satellites in there. We’ve got a rocket turning up here on Friday. In a couple of weeks this area will be a launchpad that will put something into orbit.”

Between now and then there will be a training flight, tests on the rocket and a little time for the Americans in the crew to sample the delights of Cornwall, perhaps even compare its surfing beaches to those in California. For the next few weeks, the area around the spaceport will be officially designated US territory. Security has been stepped up.

Then the Start Me Up flight (named after the Rolling Stones song) will launch. The rocket will be fixed to the underside of one of the wings of the 747 – called Cosmic Girl after the 1996 funk hit from