Over the years, the idea of a space mission being launched from a nondescript corner of a Cornish airport has attracted a fair amount of skepticism.
Even the most hardened doubters may have been silenced by this week's impressive touchdown in north Cornwall.
The first satellite launch from the UK will take place within a few weeks when the jumbo jet takes off from Spaceport Cornwall at 35,000 feet.
Matthew "Stanny" Stannard, a test pilot with the Royal Air Force, said that it was "really happening" after he flew a jumbo jet from California to Cornwall.
The trip was enjoyable. We had a chance to think about what we do. We're not just a plane. The first stage of a rocket system.
He looked at the hangar. Satellites are in there. A rocket is going to turn up here on Friday. This area is going to be a launchpad in a couple of weeks.
Between now and then there will be a training flight, tests on the rocket and some time for the Americans in the crew to sample the delights of Cornwall. The area around the spaceport will become US territory in the next few weeks. The security has been increased.
The start me up flight is named after the Rolling Stones song Stannard and his crew will take off when the rocket is fixed to the underside of the plane's wing.
Stannard will hit a button to release the rocket once they get to the correct altitude and position, a moment that would make most of the crew uneasy. The satellites will be put into the correct position.
Smaller satellites, the size of a washing machine, are able to be deployed more quickly and from more places. The UK Ministry of Defence owns assets that are being launched by Cosmic Girl.
The Spaceport team had tears in their eyes as the plane touched down.
The head of Spaceport Cornwall said this was the moment they had been waiting for. I am extremely emotional. It means a lot if you have something that is hopeful and exciting. We think it's a good idea for Cornwall. This is for Cornwall.
The director of commercial spaceflight at the UK Space Agency had an emotional reaction to Cosmic Girl touching down. The launch was a key ambition of the UK government's national space strategy.
Hundreds of jobs are connected to space in Newquay and Goonhilly Earth Station on the other side of the peninsula. The Start Me Up mission is more than just a statement about how serious the government is about space.
It was amazing to see the project come to fruition, according to the Cornwall councillor.
Children will be able to watch the take-off and landing of a rocket from their school. He said that sometimes they were criticized for not having vision. It is possible to send a rocket into space from Cornwall.
Steve Double said there had been ups and downs. This is good news for Cornwall. People told me it wouldn't happen, but here it is.
It has always been about inspiring young people in the area. The majority of my peers wanted a career in engineering or electronics. Those kinds of jobs are being created here.
The Cosmic Girl launch engineer, from Atlanta, Georgia, shivered a little on the runway but said she was just happy it wasn't raining. I was told to expect that.
She explained that the checks and drills would be monitored in a mission control set up in the stripped out first class cabin. It is time for the rocket to fly. We can't wait anymore.
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