Virgin Launch has signed a deal to develop small satellites for the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) as part of the UK defence organisation ’s Artemis project . The deal, which is part of the RAF’s Artemis project, will see Virgin Orbit aim to launch hardware provided by Guildford, U.K.-based Surrey Satellites in a demo mission. The company said it would build a spaceport in Gibraltar for the modified Boeing 747s which carry its rockets . Virgin ’s in - flight launch system can not be used for larger satellites but it said it wanted to give the UK spacecraft launching facilities .
Virgin Launch has signed a deal to develop small satellites for the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) as part of the UK defence organisation ’s Artemis project . The company said it would build a spaceport in Gibraltar for the modified Boeing 747s which carry its rockets . Virgin ’s in - flight launch system can not be used for larger satellites but it said it wanted to give the UK spacecraft launching facilities .