Virgin Orbit unveiled its new launch system, using the Cosmic Girl aircraft. He took NASA material into Earth orbit.
Virgin Orbit presented a video of a satellite launch from an airplane, a new milestone for the company. He brought ten NASA CubeSats into Earth orbit.
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 the trip to the Pacific Ocean, the rocket was released from the plane. His engine started and was put into orbit, as the video shows.
The sequence of events today for # LaunchDemo2 we went exactly to the plan, from the safe execution of our ground operations, to successful burns all the time on both engines. To say we’re excited would be a massive understatement, but 240 characters might not be right anyway. pic.twitter.com/ZKpoi7hkGN
– Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) January 18, 2021
The payload of the rocket carries ten NASA CubeSats.
The US space agency explains that the CubeSat Launch Initiative “provides opportunities for small payloads (…) to fly in future launches.” These loads are built by universities, high schools and non-profit organizations.
The Cosmic Girl flight carried cargo from universities such as Brigham Young, Michigan and Louisiana in Lafayette.
The advantages of the new Virgin Orbit launch system
Among the benefits of the new launch system, Virgin Orbit explains that “it is much more flexible”.
“(You can) fly short-term and from a wide variety of locations to access any orbit,” he said in a statement.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, expressed satisfaction with the launch in a declaration company’s.
“Virgin Orbit did something that many thought was impossible. It was so inspiring to see our specially adapted plane, the Cosmic Girl, send the rocket into orbit, “he said.
The launch was made in honor of Eva Branson, the mother of the founder of Virgin Group.
Customers such as the United States Space Force and the British Royal Air Force are looking forward to future Virgin Orbit missions.