Show Notes
In this bonus episode, we’re discussing the historic rocket launch from UK soil happening later this year. Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne will take flight from Spaceport Cornwall on a mission that will mark the first ever orbital launch from a UK spaceport and Virgin Orbit’s first mission outside of the US.
More from In-Orbit
How can satellites avoid collisions and still keep enough propellant for other work? In Outer Orbit, host Dallas Campbell speaks with Thomas Clayson, co-founder and CTO of Magdrive, about electric propulsion designed for satellites operating in crowded low Earth orbit. Thomas explains how a spacecraft stores electrical power, then uses rapid pulses to vaporise small amounts of metal into plasma. The resulting thrust is intended to combine strong short manoeuvres with the efficiency of electric propulsion. The conversation covers collision avoidance, maintaining orbit, close-proximity operations, satellite inspection and repair, and the role of mobility in in-space servicing and manufacturing. Clayson also sets out why metal propellant could be sourced in future from lunar material, asteroids or recycled debris, while noting that refuelling in space is not yet available. Separately, The Register reported that Starlink observed roughly 164,000 conjunctions whose closest approach fell within four hours of an unannounced manoeuvre over six months. That figure, attributed to SpaceX, connects to the episode’s focus on responsive propulsion and safe coordination as more spacecraft share the same orbital shells.
Today, in our series finale, our host Dallas Campbell is sitting down one-on-one with the CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult, John Abbott.
In this episode of Outer-Orbit, we talk with Pat Mathewson, Head of Business Strategy and Analysis at Astroscale to explore space economics and examine the growing role that space plays in global markets. Outer-Orbit is our bonus series where we share short episodes that continue the conversation from our main episodes, focusing in on a particular topic or point of view. Astroscale:LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook
In this bonus episode, we’re discussing the IOD-3 Amber satellite. Amber is a partnership between the Satellite Applications Catapult and Horizon Technologies. Built by AAC Clyde Space in Scotland, it will be launched by Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne on its historic flight from Spaceport Cornwall later this year – a mission that will mark the first ever orbital launch from a UK spaceport.
Today – in the final episode of our second series – we’re discussing the future of rocket launches from the UK.