Monday, April 13, 2020

Virgin Orbit Completes Flight Tests

Mojave-based Virgin Orbit, the other, Richard Branson-based spaceflight technology developer, successfully completed a number of tests on Sunday, on its way to its first demonstration launch. The company--which is developing orbital rockets designed to launch from a modified 747--said the tests were a complete, end-to-end launch rehearsal. The company said the test included "all of our ground operations; our mission control; all of our communications systems and protocols; all of our range assets; and our carrier aircraft’s takeoff, flyout, pull-up maneuver, and return-to-base operations." The new tests came after Virgin Orbit completely reconfigured its operations to deal with COVID-19 restrictions; the company said it has shifted a large amount of its staff to remote operation, changed procedures to meet social distancing requirements, and also ramped up its use of Personal Protective Equipment in order to accomplish the tests.