The historic first ever satellite launch from UK soil could take off from Cornwall Airport Newquay on Monday.

Virgin Orbit’s Cosmic Girl 747 aircraft is due to take off from Spaceport Cornwall and launch its LauncherOne, a 70-foot-long rocket, which will be packed full of satellites.

The mission is subject to a number of different factors including the completion of final checks and ensuring the conditions are right.  Other dates in the pipeline are January 13, 15, 18, 19 and 20.

Cosmic Girl is due to carry LauncherOne to an altitude of roughly 35,000 ft before the rocket is 'horizontally' dropped. 

The rocket will then engage its thrusters to launch itself into space at up to 17,500 mph, where it will deposit the satellites.

Aptly named the “Start Me Up” mission; it will be Virgin Orbit’s first international launch and the first commercial launch from Western Europe.

The event has been billed as a breakthrough moment for the UK space sector.

LauncherOne will carry seven payloads into Lower Earth Orbit, which will span a wide range of activities aimed at improving life on planet Earth, including reducing the environmental impact of production; preventing illegal trafficking, smuggling, and terrorism; and a host of national security functions.

This will include the first ever satellite launched by the Sultanate of Oman focused on Earth Observation; future-facing return satellite tech aboard Wales’ first satellite, built by Space Forge; a Maritime monitoring payload built by Horizon Technologies and the Satellite Applications Catapult; as well satellites from the MOD, DSTL and US National Reconnaissance Office.

Virgin stood down an attempt before Christmas for late additional testing, but the firm says it's now good to go.

Dan Hart, the CEO of Virgin Orbit, said: "After ensuring that every technical aspect is sound and every regulation and code has been satisfied, it is gratifying to see this historic endeavour on the verge of coming to fruition.

"This launch represents the opening of a new era in the British space industry and new partnerships across industry, government, and allies."