Thousands expected in Cornwall for Europe’s first satellite launch

Start Me Up mission will send nine civil and defence satellites into orbit from Newquay spaceport on Monday

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Cornwall to witness the first orbital rocket launch from UK soil in what is being heralded as the start of a new era" for the British space industry.

As long as there are no last-minute technical hitches - and the Cornish weather does not spoil the party - the historic Start Me Up mission will take off on Monday night from Spaceport Cornwall, blasting nine satellites into orbit.