The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority has granted Virgin Orbit (NASDAQ: VORB) launch and range control licenses, paving the way for the first satellite launch from UK soil. The issuance of these licenses is a significant milestone for the historic Start Me Up mission and indicates that Virgin Orbit has taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety, security, and environmental responsibility of the launch.

Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne system is currently at Spaceport Cornwall in the U.K., undergoing final launch rehearsals in preparation for the mission. The company's engineering and technician team has verified the system's readiness for spaceflight and has recharged the batteries of the satellites scheduled for launch.

With the necessary licenses in place, Virgin Orbit is now working with all mission stakeholders to open the first orbital launch window in western European history, targeting a launch date in the coming weeks. This marks a major step forward for the commercial space industry in the U.K. and demonstrates the country's growing capabilities in this field. 

Virgin Orbit CEO, Dan Hart stated: “At this time, all of Virgin Orbit’s systems are green for launch. Our team is laser-focused on execution of final checkouts, launch rehearsal, and ultimately the launch.”

Founded in 2017, Virgin Orbit operates in California, and is one of the most flexible and responsive space launch systems ever built. 

Shares of Virgin Orbit trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol VORB.