The UK's first ever UK space launch is set to take place from Cornwall this month after a series of delays.
The launch window opens on Monday, January 9 it has been confirmed.
The launch was due to happen in December but delays in obtaining Civil Aviation Authority licences meant it was pushed back to the New Year.
Now, the UK Space Agency has confirmed that the first launch is due to take place on Monday after 10pm.
A specially modified Boeing 747 - called Cosmic Girl - from Richard Branson's company Virgin Orbit will take off from Newquay Airport. It will have the Launcher One rocket attached to its wing which will propel small satellites into orbit at around 36,000 ft.
LauncherOne has completed its last end-to-end launch rehearsal, taking the integrated system through to the loading of propellants and proceeding through terminal count.
Several of the satellites have been constructed in the UK, including the first Welsh satellite, which will also be on the launch and was built by Cardiff-based Space Forge.
Also on board is the Oxford-built DOVER-Pathfinder satellite, designed and built by Open Cosmos for the RHEA Group in only fourth months. The satellite will provide position, navigation and timing (PNT) services, which are necessary to run and maintain critical infrastructure including transport, energy, finance and data centres.
Cosmic Girl arrived at Newquay Airport in October.
Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit Chief Executive, 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."
The launch was originally due to take place at the end of last year.
Spaceport Cornwall was granted its operating licence from the CAA in November, making it the first official spaceport in Britain.
Virgin Orbit received its own licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in December.
Read more: 'Kids believe it more than adults': What's next after Cornwall's first space launch
The Start Me Up mission will carry satellites from seven customers to space, including commercial and government payloads from several nations and a collaborative US-UK mission.
Ian Annett, deputy CEO at the UK Space Agency, said: "We are entering a new era for space in the UK with the first ever satellite launch from UK soil and from Europe. This is a significant landmark for the nation, the UK Space Agency and for all those who have worked so hard over many years to make our ambitions to create a commercial space launch capability a reality.
"The development of new orbital launch capabilities is already generating growth, catalysing investment and creating jobs in Cornwall and other communities across the United Kingdom. This will lead to new careers, improved productivity and inspire the next generation of space professionals, and this is just the beginning. I look forward to seeing more launches from other UK spaceports over the next year, putting us firmly on the map as Europe’s leading destination for commercial small satellite launch."
Read more:
List of UK space launch firms behind the satellites heading into orbit
All about the Virgin Orbit space launch from Cornwall that's just weeks away
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