Virgin Orbit reports 'anomaly' in UK satellite launch

A mission to launch the first satellites into orbit from Western Europe suffered an “anomaly” Tuesday, Virgin Orbit said.

The U.S.-based company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson was attempting to use a modified jumbo jet to carry one of its rockets from Cornwall in southwestern England to the Atlantic Ocean where the rocket was released.The rocket was supposed to take nine small satellites for mixed civil and defence use into orbit.But about two hours after the plane took off, the company reported that the mission encountered a problem.

The repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft arrived back at Cornwall Airport early Tuesday morning.The launch was originally planned for late last year, but it was postponed because of technical and regulatory issues.