A report from the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee claims that bolstering domestic launch capabilities would also help to strengthen Britain’s position in the design and manufacture of small satellites.

However, the first attempt at a rocket launch from British soil by Virgin Orbit in January this year failed catastrophically, with the firm discovering that a dislodged fuel filter caused an engine to overheat.

Virgin Orbit, which has since been shuttered in the wake of the disastrous launch, were highly critical of the UK regulatory process which preceded the attempt.

This process was led by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who were accused by Virgin Orbit of operating a process that was slow, excessively bureaucratic, and risk averse. The CAA defended the licencing process, pointing out that the UK’s first launch involved necessary complexity including overflying residential populations and different countries’ airspace.

The body...