Above the Clouds
LauncherOne
Virgin Orbit
Rocket Launch Video
Mission
Above the Clouds
- Type: Communications
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $12,000,000
Mission to a 500 km circular orbit inclined at 45 degrees carrying eight R&D satellites from US government agencies with communications and navigation experiments as well as two Earth-observation nanosatellites from Polish company SatRevolution.
Location
Mojave Air and Space Port
Air launch to orbit
Mojave Air and Space Port has witnessed the launch of 5 rockets, including 5 orbital launch attempts. While Air launch to orbit, has been the site for 51 rocket launches.
Rocket
Virgin Orbit LauncherOne
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.
Agency
Virgin Orbit
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
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds launch scheduled?
The Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds launch was scheduled for:
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Where can I watch the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds launch video?
You can watch the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds mission launch from?
The Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket launched from Mojave Air and Space Port at Air launch to orbit.
What rocket was used for the Above the Clouds mission?
The Above the Clouds mission launched aboard a Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket. 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. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds launch?
The Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Above the Clouds launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest Virgin Orbit LauncherOne launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Above the Clouds mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official Virgin Orbit live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.