Problems with Space Travel

 by Fraser Langley

Intangible and otherworldly, space travel seems unfamiliar to most people. Despite great advancements in technology and significant increases in our knowledge and capabilities when it comes to the science behind space travel, it still proves to be something that cannot be fully grasped and conceptualised. 

Unfortunately, the complexity of space travel has once again proven to be inaccessible and unobtainable, as the company, Virgin Orbit, a satellite launch company founded by Richard Branson, has ceased its operations and filed for bankruptcy. The company, which holds its main operations in California, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the USA in April. Consequently, the company has recently finalised this by auctioning off their assets, which has amounted to $36 million; a fraction of the company’s worth in 2021, as it was valued at $3.5 billion. This is evidently a significant loss for the company, but this company was also a figurehead for the development of space travel, specifically in the UK, so this signifies a hugely catastrophic event for UK space travel industries.

The goal of the company was to be at the forefront of innovation and development in the field of space travel; endeavouring to eventually be the company behind the commercialisation of space travel, theoretically making it something attainable and comprehensible to multitudes of people, juxtaposing the extensively shielded industry it currently is, as this is perpetuated by the immense cost of space travel currently.

The company's main complication, which in turn ignited its demise, was when their attempted first launch of a rocket from British soil ended tragically, with the attempt failing. This launch, from Cornwall, had gathered the attention of masses of people, with the united anticipation of the prospect of the capability of space travel from British soil acting. However, the conspicuous nature of this launch and the gravity of the circumstances, this failed attempt dramatically tarnished the name of Virgin Orbit, as the promise of such success and innovation, subsequently resulting in disaster, caused devastating damage to the company, both economically and politically.

This is undoubtedly a huge blow to bolstering the space travel industry in the UK, as Virgin Orbit was arguably the pioneer of this field, and was dedicated to facilitating the development of space travel from the UK. So, this is not just a loss for the prospect of space travel on a global scale, but particularly on a local, national scale.