Virgin Orbit Straight Up LauncherOne
About the Straight Up Mission
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $12,000,000
Launch contracted by the U.S. Space Force for the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), with payloads provided by the DoD Space Test Program (STP) as part of the Space Force’s STP-28A mission.
It will carry seven satellites from multiple government agencies that are experiments intended to demonstrate novel modular satellite bus, space domain awareness, and adaptive radio frequency technologies. The target orbit is approximately 500 km above the Earth’s surface at 45 degrees inclination.
Launch Pad & Location
Mojave Air and Space Port
Air launch to orbit
The Mojave Air and Space Port launch pad has hosted 5 rocket launches, including 5 orbital launch attempts. The Air launch to orbit launch site has been the location for 51 total rocket launches.
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.
About 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 Straight Up launch scheduled?
The Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Straight Up launch was scheduled for:
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Where did the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Straight Up 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 Straight Up mission?
The Straight Up 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 Straight Up launch?
The Virgin Orbit LauncherOne Straight Up 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 Straight Up 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 Straight Up 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.