Launch Demo
LauncherOne
Virgin Orbit
Mission
Launch Demo
- Type: Test Flight
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $12,000,000
Payload-free test flight of the LauncherOne vehicle.
Shortly after release from the carrier plane and several seconds after first stage engine startup, the high-pressure LOX feeding line broke. This resulted in engine shutdown and subsequent flight termination.
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
