Spaceport Cornwall boss denounces industry sexism as she prepares to step down after Virgin Orbit’s failed launch
The outgoing boss of Spaceport Cornwall has cracked down on sexist behavior in the male-dominated industry.
Melissa Quinn, who oversaw the first-ever space launch from British soil in January, which ended in failure when the Virgin Orbit rocket suffered what was described as an “anomaly,” is leaving the company after nearly a decade.
She revealed that the job “got ugly from time to time,” saying, “I just felt like I didn’t have much support to maintain my own level of security and safety for my family.”
“So for me it was more of a personal decision to step out of the limelight in Cornwall.”
Quinn – who has been appointed general manager of US-based space data and tracking company Seradata – added: “It is a very male-dominated industry.
Launch failure: Melissa Quinn (pictured), oversaw the first-ever space launch from British soil in January, which ended in failure when the Virgin Orbit rocket suffered an ‘anomaly’
“I could write a book about the ridiculous things that have been said to me.
“It’s been important to me that I don’t just sit back and be quiet — I added that to the conversation. But also that I called them to account when they were blatantly quite sexist.’
She said she would often face the behavior and “call it out.”
“Unless we do, they’ll keep getting away with it,” she said.
Quinn said she was struggling after Virgin’s failed launch.
“A lot of people wanted to point the finger and it’s easy to point the finger at the person who led it,” she said.
“But I feel that unfortunately these days with social media things can spread like wildfire very quickly, can be very personal and they go a little bit unchecked.
“In the end there is a human being at the end of everything and that hurts, of course it hurts.
“It got to the point where I was just thinking about my own family and for me it was about time I took some time out of that spotlight.”