Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra on Tuesday hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), after Britain's unsuccessful attempt to launch satellites into space grabbed headlines.
“I recognise that this was a very different type of orbital launch but it stills tells me how much more we should appreciate and admire the launch record of @isro”, Mahindra tweeted.
On Tuesday, Virging Orbit said that the rocket had appeared to have an anomaly that prevented it from reaching the orbit. A Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 carrying the 70-foot rocket had taken off from a spaceport in southwest England's Cornwall, AFP stated.
The rocket detached from the aircraft and ignited at a height of 35,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland at around 2315 Greenwich Mean Time (4:45 am IST).
“As we find out more, we're removing our previous tweet about reaching orbit. We'll share more info when we can”. Virgin Orbit tweeted.
Had the mission been successful, the United Kingdom would have been one of only nine European countries that could launch craft into Earth's orbit.
{{/usCountry}}Had the mission been successful, the United Kingdom would have been one of only nine European countries that could launch craft into Earth's orbit.
{{/usCountry}}The satellites produced in the UK had to be sent to spaceports in other countries for their space journey. The space mission is a collaboration between the UK Space Agency, the Royal Air Force, Virgin Orbit and the Cornwall Council.
Originally planned for launch late last year, the mission was postponed due to technical and regulatory issues, AP reported.
Virgin Orbit was founded by British tycoon Richard Branson and has completed four similar launches from California in the past.
(With AP, AFP, Reuters inputs)