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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Via AP news wire

EXPLAINED: Virgin orbit premature shutdown behind rocket launch fail | Rare Historical Photos

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Virgin Orbit said Thursday its first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from the U.K. failed after its rocket's upper stage prematurely shut down.

The U.S.-based company used a modified Boeing 747 plane to carry one of its rockets from Cornwall in southwestern England over the Atlantic Ocean on Monday. The plane released the rocket, which carried nine small satellites, but the rocket failed to reach orbit.

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