LauncherOne (Virgin Orbit)
The LauncherOne is a non-reusable, inactive launch vehicle manufactured by Virgin Orbit (established in 2017). It undertook its inaugural launch on 05/25/2020.
LauncherOne is a two stage orbital launch vehicle developed by Virgin Orbit since 2007. It is an air launch to orbit rocket, designed to launch "smallsat" payloads of 300 kilograms (660 lb) into a Sun-synchronous orbit, following air launch from a carrier aircraft at high altitude.
LauncherOne Specifications
| Variant | One |
|---|---|
| Length | 16 m |
| Diameter | 1.6 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 30 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 327 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 500 kg |
| SSO Capacity | 300 kg |
| Launch Cost | $12,000,000 |
LauncherOne Launch Record
| Total Launches | 6 |
|---|---|
| Successful Launches | 4 |
| Failed Launches | 2 |
Manufacturer
President: Dan Hart
Virgin Orbit is a company within the Virgin Group which plans to provide launch services for small satellites. The company was formed in 2017 to develop the air-launched LauncherOne rocket, launched from Cosmic Girl, which had previously been a project of Virgin Galactic. Based in Long Beach, California, Virgin Orbit has more than 300 employees led by president Dan Hart, a former vice president of government satellite systems at Boeing.
Virgin Orbit focuses on small satellite launch, which is one of three capabilities being focused on by Virgin Galactic. These capabilities are: human spaceflight operations, small satellite launch, and advanced aerospace design, manufacturing, and test