UK air accident officials to investigate failure to get satellites into orbit

Teams behind historic mission describe tearful scenes but express determination to try again

• Disappointing end to UK space mission as satellites fail to reach orbit

British air accident investigators are to examine the failed attempt to send satellites into orbit from Cornwall as the teams behind the historic mission described tearful scenes when the rocket was lost but expressed a determination to try again as soon as possible.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) said Virgin Orbit's Start Me Up mission had been a partial success, showing that a rocket launch was possible from Britain - and claimed it had beaten Norway and Sweden to be the first country to fire satellites into space from European soil.