Launch of Virgin rocket affects Canaries air traffic

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

The launch of a Virgin rocket will affect air traffic south of Fuerteventura.

A "protected zone" has been decreed in case of any problems with the launch.
The launch from the United Kingdom by Virgin Orbit of the Launcher One rocket, carried out yesterday, at 22.16 island time, will affect air traffic in the Canary Islands for several days throughout the month of January. Yesterday's is the first of the launches that the company has scheduled during January, for a total of four, advanced yesterday from the social networks of air traffic controllers.

 

Virgin Orbit yesterday deployed the firm's Launcher One rocket alongside a modified Boeing 747. The launch took place from the Cornwall area in the southwest of the country. The idea is to put into orbit small satellites of up to seven different clients of the company owned by Richard Branson, the billionaire faced with tycoon Jeff Bezos, "explains Diario de Avisos.

 

The mission, dubbed Start Me Up (reference to the famous song of the Rolling Stones) will place up to nine payloads in a synchronized orbit with the sun to meet the needs of 7 government and commercial customers. These include the US Naval Research Laboratory, the UK Ministry of Defence, and several UK companies, such as Horizon Technologies or Space Forge.

 

Due to this launch, air traffic in the Canary Islands will be affected. Specifically, for security reasons, on 9,13,15 and 18 from 22.16 hours until 00.16 hours the next day, Tenerife South airport will be closed to traffic.

 

From the account of @controladores have explained that it is a "protected area" in case any kind of problem occurs with this launch. As the rest of the province's airports are closed, only Tenerife South would be affected.

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