News

First orbital satellite launch from the UK set for take-off

Published

3 years ago

January 9, 2023

THE UK is about to play host to an unprecedented space mission, which could turn the country into a home of new rocket launches.

It will be the first ever rocket launch from UK soil, as well as the first time that satellites have been launched from Europe.

As long as there are no last-minute technical hitches and the weather in the far south-west of Britain behaves, a converted Boeing 747 will take off from Spaceport Cornwall, fly out across the Atlantic and launch a rocket that will propel nine satellites into space.

Virgin Orbit’s Start Me Up mission on Monday night will be the first launch of satellites from British soil and is being heralded as the start of a new space era for the UK.

Speaking on a more down-to-earth form of transport – a Devon double-decker bus but with a great view across to the 747 – Ian Annett, the deputy chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “We’re all greens at the moment but of course there’s a number of gremlins that can trip you up at the last moment.

“We’re watching the weather closely but one of the advantages of horizontal launch is that you can quickly get above the weather. It’s looking all right for later.”

We’re at @SpaceCornwall gearing up for the first orbital satellite launch from the UK. 🚀

The launch window opens tonight from 22:16 GMT. ✈️🛰️

Our Deputy CEO Ian Annett breaks down what will happen at launch. 👇

Read more 👉 https://t.co/pjnFCSWc49 #LaunchUK #StartMeUp pic.twitter.com/16btD1r9eL
— UK Space Agency (@spacegovuk) January 9, 2023

Tickets to watch the plane take off were snapped up by members of the public within hours of being released.

Given that the mission is named after a Rolling Stones song, it seemed appropriate that the event had the trappings of a music festival.

There were food stalls and a merchandise stand selling beanies, T-shirts, even a Cornish Spaceport-branded bellyboard (£75). Spectators could take selfies in front of a replica of the LauncherOne rocket that will whiz the satellites into orbit.

There was a big screen that will track the mission and – the staple of any modern festival – a VIP section with leather armchairs. Plus a marquee with a silent disco, which promised to be a useful way of staying warm.

The spectators should see the plane, flown by Sqn Ldr Matthew Stannard, an RAF test pilot, take off from the spaceport runway and fly over the Atlantic towards Ireland.

About an hour after take-off, the rocket will be detached at 10,700 metres (35,000ft). It will fall for a few seconds before it ignites and shoots southwards, gathering speed and altitude as it passes Portugal and the Canary Islands.

At about 1.30am on Tuesday, Virgin Orbit’s mission controllers – and the crowd – should know whether the rocket has successfully delivered the satellites in orbit.

Among those with satellites onboard are the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the sultanate of Oman, the US National Reconnaissance Office and British startups including the Welsh company Space Forge, which is developing reusable satellites.

If all goes well, it will be a triumph for north Cornwall, which has faced scepticism over the years that such a mission could be launched from an area more associated with surfing than space adventures.

Melissa Thorpe, the head of Spaceport Cornwall, which is based in a corner of the commercial airport, said: “I hope people will feel some inspiration, some aspiration, and feel proud of how we are representing Cornwall going to the stars. There’s a lot of doom and gloom out there. It’s exciting, different, it’s also a bit of an underdog story.”

UPDATE: Expected take-off time moved forward

SPACE launches are often subject to delay – but tonight, it looks like things are moving forward.

Cosmic Girl, the aircraft carrying the LauncherOne rocket, will start moving down the runway at around 9.30pm, with the wheels going up about 15 minutes later.

The original launch window had the craft taking off at 10.16pm at the earliest, so this move things forward by half an hour.

LauncherOne is due to blast off from the plane between an hour and 90 minutes after take-off.

Education

School issues safeguarding alert over children’s use of Roblox

Published

5 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi warns parents about addictive gameplay, unsafe chat functions and scammers

YSGOL PENRHYN DEWI in St Davids has issued a safeguarding warning to parents after concerns were raised about children’s use of the popular online gaming platform Roblox.

In a letter sent to families today (Dec 15), Assistant Headteacher Louise Gray said the school had been made aware of a series of risks linked to the platform, which is widely used by children aged 8–13 – and in some cases younger.

Roblox allows users to create and play games developed by other players. However, the school says this user-generated model can expose children to inappropriate or harmful content depending on which games they access.

Range of risks highlighted

The letter sets out several specific safeguarding concerns, including:

Inappropriate content in user-created games
Highly addictive gameplay, with daily quests and reward systems designed to increase screen time
Easily changed parental controls, allowing children to adjust settings without verification
Chat features that expose younger players to inappropriate messages
Peer pressure from in-game ‘connections’, with children believing they know other users
Emotional dysregulation linked to heavy use of the platform
Scams, including fake offers of free Robux or cosmetic items

Parents are being urged to closely monitor how their children use the platform, who they interact with, and what content they can access.

Guidance available

The school has directed families to the Welsh Government’s Hwb website for further advice on parental controls and safe use of Roblox.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

55 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.