Melissa Quinn was the Cornwall Spaceport supervisor for Britain’s first space launch earlier this year
The head of Spaceport Cornwall is leaving his role at the end of the month, Cornwall Council has announced.
Melissa Quinn has been part of the Spaceport project since its launch in 2014 and will become its leader in 2021.
She said: “I’m leaving… at the start of an exciting new chapter and I’ll be cheering it on from the sidelines.”
Cornwall Council said: “Although the satellites have not reached their final orbit, the teams at Cornwall Newquay Spaceport and Airport have executed ground operations flawlessly, justifying their achievement of being awarded the UK’s first spaceport licence.
“Melissa has championed Cornwall on a global stage and helped develop partnerships locally to accelerate the growth of Cornwall’s space sector.”
Ms Quinn, originally from British Columbia in Canada, said: “I am incredibly proud of what my small, dedicated team and I have achieved. I am most proud of our work with local young people, especially girls, inspiring them to get into STEAM careers.
Ms Quinn was among the first to answer questions from waiting media after the first launch from Cornwall Spaceport ended in failure
“I want to thank my team and our partners for helping us achieve our goal of a space for good, putting Cornwall on the world stage.”
Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for the economy, said: “I would like to personally thank Melissa for her dedication and leadership in making Spaceport Cornwall a reality – and in particular for the way her work has inspired thousands young people to understand that an amazing career in space is something they can achieve right here in Cornwall.”
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