Monday, November 19, 2018

Virgin Orbit Moves Closer To First Launch With Captive Carry Test

Virgin Orbit, one of the space launch startups backed by The Virgin Group, has successfully performed a "captive carry" flight test of its LauncherOne air launch system over the weekend. Virgin Orbit took its airborne, satellite payload launch system for a successful test flight out of Victorville, from the Southern California Logistics Airport on November 18th, according to the company, as it moves further to its first launch. Virgin Orbit is using a modified 747 to carry the LauncherOne rocket; eventually, that rocket will be released and sent into space with small satellite payloads. Virgin Orbit is aiming at a launch of its first payload in 2019. Virgin Orbit is one of a number of startups based out of Southern California hoping to launch small satellites into space: others include Rocket Lab, which just had its first commercial launch; and Stratolaunch, which has created the world's largest plane specifically for its launch vehicle efforts.