VORB - Virgin Orbit rallies as it preps for first UK rocket launch ever

Virgin Orbit ( NASDAQ: VORB ) rallied on Monday after the company announced that the initial window for the historic U.K. mission will officially open later in the day. The mission is a collaboration between the U.K. Space Agency, the Royal Air Force, Virgin Orbit and Cornwall Council

The Start Me Up mission (named after the Rolling Stones song) will carry satellites from seven customers to space, including commercial and government payloads from several nations and a collaborative US-UK mission. The LauncherOne system that will conduct the mission is now mated to its carrier aircraft, a Boeing 747 dubbed Cosmic Girl, at Spaceport Cornwall.

The mission is notable as the first orbital launch from UK soil or from anywhere in western Europe. However, Virgin Orbit and its partners plan to maintain a conservative posture with regard to system health, weather, and all other elements of scheduling.

Shares of VORB rose 7.99% in early trading on Monday to cut into the sharp drop from the last year.

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