Virgin Orbit showed off its new launch system, using the Cosmic Girl aircraft. It brought NASA material into Earth orbit.
Virgin Orbit showed the video of the launch of a satellite from an airplane, a new milestone for the company. It brought into orbit 10 NASA cubes.
The launch was made from a custom 747-400, the Cosmic Girl. The plane took off from Mojave Air and Space Port on Sunday morning.
After traveling to the Pacific Ocean, the rocket was released from the plane. Its engine started and was put into orbit, as shown in the video.
Today’s sequence for # LaunchDemo2 we went exactly to the plan, from the safe execution of our ground operations to successful full-duration burns on both engines. To say we’re delighted would be a massive understatement, but 240 characters couldn’t do it justice anyway. pic.twitter.com/ZKpoi7hkGN
– Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) January 18, 2021
The rocket payload carried ten NASA cubes.
The US space agency explains that the CubeSat Launch Initiative “offers opportunities for small payloads (…) to fly in upcoming launches.” These loads are built by universities, high schools, and nonprofits.
The Cosmic Girl’s flight brought loads of universities like Brigham Young, Michigan and Louisiana to Lafayette.
The benefits of the new Virgin Orbit launch system
Among the benefits of the new launch system, Virgin Orbit explains that “it’s much more flexible.”
“(You can) fly in the short term and from a wide variety of locations to access any orbit,” it notes in a statement.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, expressed his satisfaction with the launch of a statement of the company.
“Virgin Orbit has achieved something that many thought impossible. It was so inspiring to see our specially adapted aircraft, the Cosmic Girl, send the rocket into orbit,” he said.
The launch was made in honor of Eve Branson, mother of the founder of Virgin Group.
Customers such as the U.S. Space Force and the British Royal Air Force are awaiting upcoming Virgin Orbit missions.