Virgin Orbit U.K. space mission fails as rocket suffers “anomaly” after launch

THE FIRST SATELLITE MISSION LA UN CH ED F RO M TH E UK HA S LAUNCHED FROM THE UK HAS LAUNCHED FROM THE UK HAS FA IL ED . FAILED. FAILED. >> THE ROCKET IGNITED AS PLAN, AN D IT AP PE AR ED TO BE AS CE ND IN G AND IT APPEARED TO BE ASCENDING AND IT APPEARED TO BE ASCENDING CO RR EC TL Y. CORRECTLY. CORRECTLY. BU T TH EN OF FI CI AL S SA Y AN BUT THEN OFFICIALS SAY AN BUT THEN OFFICIALS SAY AN AN OM AL Y DU RI NG TH E SE CO ND ST AG E ANOMALY DURING THE SECOND STAGE ANOMALY DURING THE SECOND STAGE OF T HE LA UN CH PR EV EN TE D TH E OF THE LAUNCH PREVENTED THE OF THE LAUNCH PREVENTED THE RO CK ET F RO M AC TU AL LY RE AC HI NG ROCKET FROM ACTUALLY REACHING ROCKET FROM ACTUALLY REACHING OR BI T. ORBIT. ORBIT. CB S NE WS BO RN CO UR SE CBS NEWS BORN COURSE CBS NEWS BORN COURSE CO RR ES PO ND EN T CH AR LI E D’ AG AT A CORRESPONDENT CHARLIE D’AGATA CORRESPONDENT CHARLIE D’AGATA JO IN S US NO W FR OM LO ND ON . JOINS US NOW FROM LONDON. JOINS US NOW FROM LONDON. CH AR LI E AL WA YS A PL EA SU RE WH EN CHARLIE ALWAYS A PLEASURE WHEN CHARLIE ALWAYS A PLEASURE WHEN WE G ET TO CH AT . WE GET TO CHAT. WE GET TO CHAT. I WI LL AD MI T, I WA S A LI TT LE I WILL ADMIT, I WAS A LITTLE I WILL ADMIT, I WAS A LITTLE SK EP TI CA L FR OM TH E BE GI NN IN G. SKEPTICAL FROM THE BEGINNING. SKEPTICAL FROM THE BEGINNING. >> W HY ? >> WHY? >> WHY? >> TH EY TO OK AN AI RP LA NE , TH EY >> THEY TOOK AN AIRPLANE, THEY >> THEY TOOK AN AIRPLANE, THEY ST RA PP ED A RO CK ET ON TO IT AN D STRAPPED A ROCKET ONTO IT AND STRAPPED A ROCKET ONTO IT AND EX PE CT ED I T TO GO . EXPECTED IT TO GO. EXPECTED IT TO GO. BE YO ND S OR T OF MY B AS IC BEYOND SORT OF MY BASIC BEYOND SORT OF MY BASIC EX PL AN AT IO N OF TH IN GS , DU DE WE EXPLANATION OF THINGS, DUDE WE EXPLANATION OF THINGS, DUDE WE KN OW M OR E AB OU T WH AT WR ON G? KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT WRONG? KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT WRONG? >> R ep or te r: SO RR Y, E RR OL L. >> Reporter: SORRY, ERROLL. >> Reporter: SORRY, ERROLL. AS Y OU SA ID , TH IS TY PE OF L AU NC H AS YOU SAID, THIS TYPE OF LAUNCH AS YOU SAID, THIS TYPE OF LAUNCH HA S BE EN US ED IN TH E PA ST AN D HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND IN F AC T IT IS BE EN US ED VE RY IN FACT IT IS BEEN USED VERY IN FACT IT IS BEEN USED VERY SU CC ES SF UL LY I N TH E UN IT ED SUCCESSFULLY IN THE UNITED SUCCESSFULLY IN THE UNITED ST AT ES . STATES. STATES. RI CH AR D BR AN SO N WA S HO PI NG TH AT RICHARD BRANSON WAS HOPING THAT RICHARD BRANSON WAS HOPING THAT IT W OU LD WO RK HE RE . IT WOULD WORK HERE. IT WOULD WORK HERE. IT IS A VE RT IC AL LA UN CH TH AT IT IS A VERTICAL LAUNCH THAT IT IS A VERTICAL LAUNCH THAT TH EY U SE D A MO DI FI ED 74 7, IT THEY USED A MODIFIED 747, IT THEY USED A MODIFIED 747, IT WA S SU CC ES SF UL IT RE AC HE D A WAS SUCCESSFUL IT REACHED A WAS SUCCESSFUL IT REACHED A HE IG HT O F 50 00 F EE T . IT TH EN HEIGHT OF 5000 FEET. IT THEN HEIGHT OF 5000 FEET. IT THEN LA UN CH ED TH E FI RS T ST AG E OF LAUNCHED THE FIRST STAGE OF LAUNCHED THE FIRST STAGE OF TH IS R OC KE T. THIS ROCKET. THIS ROCKET. TH E RO CK ET RE AC HE D 11 ,0 00 MI LE S THE ROCKET REACHED 11,000 MILES THE ROCKET REACHED 11,000 MILES PE R HO UR , AN D TH EN AS YO U SA ID , PER HOUR, AND THEN AS YOU SAID, PER HOUR, AND THEN AS YOU SAID, AN AN OM AL Y HA PP EN ED . AN ANOMALY HAPPENED. AN ANOMALY HAPPENED. WE H AV EN ‘T BE EN GI VE N DE TA IL S WE HAVEN’T BEEN GIVEN DETAILS WE HAVEN’T BEEN GIVEN DETAILS AS T O WH AT T HA T AN OM AL Y IS , IT AS TO WHAT THAT ANOMALY IS, IT AS TO WHAT THAT ANOMALY IS, IT AP PE AR S TO BE TH E SE CO ND ST AG E APPEARS TO BE THE SECOND STAGE APPEARS TO BE THE SECOND STAGE OF T HA T RO CK ET . OF THAT ROCKET. OF THAT ROCKET. WH ET HE R IT WA S A TE CH NI CA L OR WHETHER IT WAS A TECHNICAL OR WHETHER IT WAS A TECHNICAL OR PH YS IC AL IS SU E, JU ST DI DN ‘T PHYSICAL ISSUE, JUST DIDN’T PHYSICAL ISSUE, JUST DIDN’T RE AC H TH E OR BI T TH AT WA S REACH THE ORBIT THAT WAS REACH THE ORBIT THAT WAS NE CE SS AR Y TO LA UN CH TH E PA YL OA D NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE PAYLOAD NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE PAYLOAD OF N IN E SA TE LL IT ES TH AT WE RE ON OF NINE SATELLITES THAT WERE ON OF NINE SATELLITES THAT WERE ON BO AR D. BOARD. BOARD. SO Y EA H, IT IS A SE T BA CK . SO YEAH, IT IS A SET BACK. SO YEAH, IT IS A SET BACK. TH EY H AV E BE EN WO RK IN G ON TH IS THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FO R SO ME TH IN G LI KE 10 Y EA RS . WE U ND ER ST AN D TH AT W HA TE VE R IS WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER IS WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER IS UP T HE RE WI LL FA LL HA RM LE SS LY UP THERE WILL FALL HARMLESSLY UP THERE WILL FALL HARMLESSLY IN TO TH E OC EA N AN D PR OB AB LY INTO THE OCEAN AND PROBABLY INTO THE OCEAN AND PROBABLY BU RN IN B RE AK UP . IT IS NO T BURN IN BREAKUP. IT IS NOT BURN IN BREAKUP. IT IS NOT GO IN G OV ER AN Y PO PU LA TE D AR EA S, GOING OVER ANY POPULATED AREAS, GOING OVER ANY POPULATED AREAS, BU T IT IS A MA JO R SE TB AC K BUT IT IS A MAJOR SETBACK BUT IT IS A MAJOR SETBACK BE CA US E A LO T OF MO NE Y HA S BE EN BECAUSE A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN BECAUSE A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN IN VO LV ED I N IT IS WO RK ED IN TH E INVOLVED IN IT IS WORKED IN THE INVOLVED IN IT IS WORKED IN THE PA ST . PAST. PAST. TH E RE AS ON IT IS A SE TB AC K HE RE THE REASON IT IS A SETBACK HERE THE REASON IT IS A SETBACK HERE IN T HE UK IS BE CA US E TH E BR IT S IN THE UK IS BECAUSE THE BRITS IN THE UK IS BECAUSE THE BRITS AR E SO LA R GL OB AL CO MP ET IT OR S ARE SOLAR GLOBAL COMPETITORS ARE SOLAR GLOBAL COMPETITORS WH EN I T CO ME S TO SA TE LL IT ES . WHEN IT COMES TO SATELLITES. WHEN IT COMES TO SATELLITES. AN D TH E PR OD UC TI ON OF AND THE PRODUCTION OF AND THE PRODUCTION OF SA TE LL IT ES B UT IT IS GE TT IN G SATELLITES BUT IT IS GETTING SATELLITES BUT IT IS GETTING TH EM U P IN A SP AC E WH IC H IS TH E THEM UP IN A SPACE WHICH IS THE THEM UP IN A SPACE WHICH IS THE HA RD P AR T AN D TH EY AR E GE TT IN G HARD PART AND THEY ARE GETTING HARD PART AND THEY ARE GETTING TI RE D OF HA VI NG T O BE AR TH EM TIRED OF HAVING TO BEAR THEM TIRED OF HAVING TO BEAR THEM OU T TO PL AC ES LI KE TH E UN IT ED OUT TO PLACES LIKE THE UNITED OUT TO PLACES LIKE THE UNITED ST AT ES A ND OT HE R PA RT S OF TH E STATES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WO RL D. WORLD. WORLD. TH EY W AN T TH EI R OW N SP AC E THEY WANT THEIR OWN SPACE THEY WANT THEIR OWN SPACE LA UN CH IS HE RE . LAUNCH IS HERE. LAUNCH IS HERE. >> WE SH OU LD AL SO NO TE TH AT AL L >> WE SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT ALL >> WE SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT ALL TH OS E TE ST S AR E TO A N EX PE NS E. THOSE TESTS ARE TO AN EXPENSE. THOSE TESTS ARE TO AN EXPENSE. TH IS I S NO T A CH EA P EN DE AV OR BY THIS IS NOT A CHEAP ENDEAVOR BY THIS IS NOT A CHEAP ENDEAVOR BY AN Y ME AS UR E. ANY MEASURE. ANY MEASURE. BU T OF CO UR SE PE OP LE WI LL B E BUT OF COURSE PEOPLE WILL BE BUT OF COURSE PEOPLE WILL BE CO MP AR IN G VI RG IN S LA UN CH OF TH E COMPARING VIRGINS LAUNCH OF THE COMPARING VIRGINS LAUNCH OF THE CO MP ET IT OR S IN TH E U. S. , SP AC E COMPETITORS IN THE U.S., SPACE COMPETITORS IN THE U.S., SPACE X, B LU E OR IG IN , WH IC H X, BLUE ORIGIN, WHICH X, BLUE ORIGIN, WHICH TH EM SE LV ES H AV E BE EN AB LE TO THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TE ST , FA IL , RE AT TE MP T, AN D TEST, FAIL, REATTEMPT, AND TEST, FAIL, REATTEMPT, AND TE ST . TEST. TEST. WH AT I S DI FF ER EN T AB OU T WH AT WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT TH E BR IT S AR E DO IN G IN IT S THE BRITS ARE DOING IN ITS THE BRITS ARE DOING IN ITS TE ST IN G PR OC ED UR E TH AT MA Y TESTING PROCEDURE THAT MAY TESTING PROCEDURE THAT MAY EX PL AI N WH AT ‘S GO IN G ON HE RE ? EXPLAIN WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? EXPLAIN WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? >> R ep or te r: YO U HA VE EL ON M US K >> Reporter: YOU HAVE ELON MUSK >> Reporter: YOU HAVE ELON MUSK WI TH SP AC ES , JE FF BE ZO S WI TH WITH SPACES, JEFF BEZOS WITH WITH SPACES, JEFF BEZOS WITH BL UE O RI GI N . TH E DI FF ER EN CE IS , BLUE ORIGIN. THE DIFFERENCE IS, BLUE ORIGIN. THE DIFFERENCE IS, IT F AI LE D. IT FAILED. IT FAILED. BU T TH ES E SP AC E CO MP AN Y AN D BUT THESE SPACE COMPANY AND BUT THESE SPACE COMPANY AND OR GA NI ZA TI ON S, T HE Y HA VE HA D ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HAVE HAD ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HAVE HAD TH EI R UP S AN D DO WN S IN TH E THEIR UPS AND DOWNS IN THE THEIR UPS AND DOWNS IN THE PA ST , TO O. PAST, TOO. PAST, TOO. I TH IN K IT WA S TH E TE CH NO LO GY I THINK IT WAS THE TECHNOLOGY I THINK IT WAS THE TECHNOLOGY TH EY WE RE TR YI NG TO US E HE RE . THEY WERE TRYING TO USE HERE. THEY WERE TRYING TO USE HERE. IT R EA LL Y SH OU LD HA VE BE EN A IT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A IT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SL AM DU NK , TH ER E HA VE BE EN SLAMDUNK, THERE HAVE BEEN SLAMDUNK, THERE HAVE BEEN SU CC ES SF UL L AU NC HE S , TH ES E SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES, THESE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES, THESE VE RT IC AL LA UN CH ES IN T HE PA ST , VERTICAL LAUNCHES IN THE PAST, VERTICAL LAUNCHES IN THE PAST, OU T OF CO UR T IN CA LI FO RN IA . OUT OF COURT IN CALIFORNIA. OUT OF COURT IN CALIFORNIA. BU T US IN G TH E SA ME TE CH NO LO GY BUT USING THE SAME TECHNOLOGY BUT USING THE SAME TECHNOLOGY TH AT RI CH AR D BR AN SO N ON HI S THAT RICHARD BRANSON ON HIS THAT RICHARD BRANSON ON HIS LA UN CH PA D TH AT HE US ED . LAUNCHPAD THAT HE USED. LAUNCHPAD THAT HE USED. SO I T IS BA CK TO TH E DR AW IN G SO IT IS BACK TO THE DRAWING SO IT IS BACK TO THE DRAWING BO AR D. BOARD. BOARD. BU T TH E PE OP LE TH AT AR E BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN VO LV ED I N TH IS , TH E SP AC E INVOLVED IN THIS, THE SPACE INVOLVED IN THIS, THE SPACE MI NI ST ER , IN HI S WO RD S, SP AC E MINISTER, IN HIS WORDS, SPACE MINISTER, IN HIS WORDS, SPACE IS H AR D. IS HARD. IS HARD. WE D O TH IS NO T BE CA US E TH EY AR E WE DO THIS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE WE DO THIS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE EA SY , BU T BE CA US E TH EY AR E HA RD EASY, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD EASY, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO D O. TO DO. TO DO. >> AB SO LU TE LY . >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> BU T TH ER E HA VE BE EN >> BUT THERE HAVE BEEN >> BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AD VA NC ES . ADVANCES. ADVANCES. >> R ep or te r: TH IS IS BA CK TO >> Reporter: THIS IS BACK TO >> Reporter: THIS IS BACK TO TH E DR AW IN G BO AR D. THE DRAWING BOARD. THE DRAWING BOARD. >> T HA T’ S WH AT I WA NT TO AS K >> THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO ASK >> THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO ASK YO U, C HA RL IE . YOU, CHARLIE. YOU, CHARLIE. PO OR E RR OL L OV ER HE RE I TH IN K POOR ERROLL OVER HERE I THINK POOR ERROLL OVER HERE I THINK WE A RE HU RT IN G HI M AS WE WE ARE HURTING HIM AS WE WE ARE HURTING HIM AS WE CO NT IN UE D ES CR IB E TH E FA IL UR E. CONTINUE DESCRIBE THE FAILURE. CONTINUE DESCRIBE THE FAILURE. WH AT W AS TH E SU CC ES S? WHAT WAS THE SUCCESS? WHAT WAS THE SUCCESS? BE CA US E IT IS ST IL L A MA JO R BECAUSE IT IS STILL A MAJOR BECAUSE IT IS STILL A MAJOR MI LE ST ON E FO R TH E UK SP AC E MILESTONE FOR THE UK SPACE MILESTONE FOR THE UK SPACE AG EN CY . AGENCY. AGENCY. >> R ep or te r: TH ER E AR E >> Reporter: THERE ARE >> Reporter: THERE ARE SU CC ES SE S ON DI FF ER EN T LE VE LS SUCCESSES ON DIFFERENT LEVELS SUCCESSES ON DIFFERENT LEVELS FO R JU ST TO GE T TO TH E FOR JUST TO GET TO THE FOR JUST TO GET TO THE LA UN CH PA D. LAUNCHPAD. LAUNCHPAD. AS Y OU ‘V E SE EN IN TH E UN IT ED AS YOU’VE SEEN IN THE UNITED AS YOU’VE SEEN IN THE UNITED ST AT ES , GE TT IN G AL L TH AT STATES, GETTING ALL THAT STATES, GETTING ALL THAT TE CH NO LO GY T OG ET HE R, IT WA S AL L TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER, IT WAS ALL TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER, IT WAS ALL IN P LA CE AN D IT WA S KI ND OF AL L IN PLACE AND IT WAS KIND OF ALL IN PLACE AND IT WAS KIND OF ALL WO RK IN G . EV ER Y PA RT OF TH IS WORKING. EVERY PART OF THIS WORKING. EVERY PART OF THIS PU ZZ LE IS CR IT IC AL , OB VI OU SY , PUZZLE IS CRITICAL, OBVIOUSY, PUZZLE IS CRITICAL, OBVIOUSY, EV ER YT HI NG H AS TO W OR K. EVERYTHING HAS TO WORK. EVERYTHING HAS TO WORK. EV ER YT HI NG DI D WO RK UP UN TI L EVERYTHING DID WORK UP UNTIL EVERYTHING DID WORK UP UNTIL TH AT L AS T PA RT . THAT LAST PART. THAT LAST PART. NO W, TH EY HA VE AL RE AD Y SA ID , NOW, THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID, NOW, THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID, TH IS W IL L BE A SE T BA CK BU T THIS WILL BE A SET BACK BUT THIS WILL BE A SET BACK BUT TH EY A RE MA RC HI NG F OR WA RD . THEY ARE MARCHING FORWARD. THEY ARE MARCHING FORWARD. TH EY A RE GO IN G TO HA VE VE RT IC AL THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE VERTICAL THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE VERTICAL LA UN CH ES , TH EY IN TE ND TO DO LAUNCHES, THEY INTEND TO DO LAUNCHES, THEY INTEND TO DO TH AT IN TH E NE XT FE W MO NT HS AN D THAT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND THAT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND TH EY IN TE ND TO IN CR EA SE THEY INTEND TO INCREASE THEY INTEND TO INCREASE IN VE ST ME NT IN SP AC E CE NT ER S INVESTMENT IN SPACE CENTERS INVESTMENT IN SPACE CENTERS HE RE I N TH E UK . HERE IN THE UK. HERE IN THE UK. SO, TH ER E WI LL BE LE SS ON S SO, THERE WILL BE LESSONS SO, THERE WILL BE LESSONS LE AR NE D, T HE RE AR E AL WA YS LEARNED, THERE ARE ALWAYS LEARNED, THERE ARE ALWAYS LE SS ON S LE AR NE D IN FA IL UR E. LESSONS LEARNED IN FAILURE. LESSONS LEARNED IN FAILURE. BU T TH EY FE EL T HA T TH EY HA VE BUT THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BUT THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE AC CO MP LI SH ED A LO T. ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. TH EY D ON ‘T WA NT TO BE SA DD EN ED , THEY DON’T WANT TO BE SADDENED, THEY DON’T WANT TO BE SADDENED, AL TH OU GH T HE Y AR E HE AR T CA N, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE HEART CAN, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE HEART CAN, TH EY W ER E UP AL L NI GH T WA TC HI NG THEY WERE UP ALL NIGHT WATCHING THEY WERE UP ALL NIGHT WATCHING TH IS T HI NG AN D TH ER E WE RE THIS THING AND THERE WERE THIS THING AND THERE WERE TH OU SA ND S OF PE OP LE GA TH ER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHER TH ER E TO WA TC H TH IS GR EA T THERE TO WATCH THIS GREAT THERE TO WATCH THIS GREAT SU CC ES S, A S TH EY HA D HO PE D. SUCCESS, AS THEY HAD HOPED. SUCCESS, AS THEY HAD HOPED. BU T YE S, BA CK TO TH E DR AW IN G BUT YES, BACK TO THE DRAWING BUT YES, BACK TO THE DRAWING BO AR D. BOARD. BOARD. I TH IN K WE WI LL NE ED TO FI ND I THINK WE WILL NEED TO FIND I THINK WE WILL NEED TO FIND OU T WH Y AN D WH AT TH IS AN OM AL Y IS OUT WHY AND WHAT THIS ANOMALY IS OUT WHY AND WHAT THIS ANOMALY IS GO OD BU T TH ER E AR E CO RR EC TI ON S GOOD BUT THERE ARE CORRECTIONS GOOD BUT THERE ARE CORRECTIONS TO ME BU T TH EY AR E MA RC HI NG TO ME BUT THEY ARE MARCHING TO ME BUT THEY ARE MARCHING FO RW AR D. FORWARD. FORWARD. >> IT WI LL BE IM PO RT AN T TO FI ND >> IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO FIND >> IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO FIND OU T WH AT TH AT AN OM AL Y IS . TH ES E OUT WHAT THAT ANOMALY IS. THESE OUT WHAT THAT ANOMALY IS. THESE TH IN GS A RE DI FF IC UL T BU T AL SO THINGS ARE DIFFICULT BUT ALSO THINGS ARE DIFFICULT BUT ALSO EX PE RI EN CE F OR