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Virgin Orbit's Mid Air Launcher Successfully Sends Its First Commercial Payloads to Space
Virgin Orbit wants to be a dedicated launch service for small satellite providers. After a few hiccups, it just tasted its first success.
Science & Tech
Just four years after its incorporation, Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit has become the newest provider for delivering space payloads. The company confirmed that it put seven satellites into their target orbits on Wednesday after carrying the rocket launcher on a modified Boeing 747's wing.
At a time, when space payload launches are synonymous with a rocket blasting off a dedicated launch site in a mission that has been planned over years, Virgin Orbit offers a highly flexible horizontal launch platform at practically any major airport near you. The idea was music to the ears of companies engaged in making small satellites. After completing its first commercial mission, Virgin Orbit has brought the idea to fruition.
The relatively short journey hasn't been without hiccups though. Last year, the company's debut launch was a dud, after the rocket launcher failed to reach orbit. Months later, Virgin Orbit successfully launched 10 payloads in low-earth orbit.
The company uses a modified-Boeing 747 jet named 'Cosmic Girl' to do much of the hard work. The jet carries a two-stage payload rocket, called LauncherOne, for most of its journey. Once the jet is near the target, it drops the rocket launcher, which free falls for a while before igniting and heading towards the low earth orbit.
On Wednesday, the plan worked to perfection. Around 9:50 ET, Cosmic Girl took off from Mojave Air and Space Port, California. After flying for almost an hour, Launcher One separated from the aircraft.
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