Its newsworthy because its a Brit that's there. Hopefully inspiring lots of kids to take more of an interest in science, I know my 12 year old is. They use the Soyuz rocket because its perfectly good enough for the job its doing, why invest more money in a "ground breaking rocket" when the money can used in other ways. It makes a change to see science as lead story on the national news rather than Muslims killing other Muslims and Corbyn blaming the west for it.
Heard Barnsley council are sending an expedition to the sun. When it was pointed out that it would burn up before it got anywhere near the sun they decided to launch at night time.