Published on November 26th, 2018 | by Dr. Jerry Doby
0Virgin Orbit One Step Closer to 2019 Mission After Successful Test Flight With ‘Fying Launch Pad’
This Sunday, a new sight appeared over Southern California skies: a specially modified 747-400 carrying a 70-foot-long rocket under its wing soared through the air as part of a successful test flight for Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne. Sir Richard Branson’s small satellite launch company completed a flawless test flight, proving that its carbon-fiber two-stage rocket works perfectly as a pair with Cosmic Girl, the customised former passenger aircraft that serves as the company’s “flying launch pad.” The successful test puts more air under the wings – and fins – of the company’s plans to reach orbit in early 2019.
This flight is the latest in a string of major steps forward for Sir Richard Branson’s satellite launch provider. The rocket was first mated to the rocket in late October, and high-speed taxi tests were conducted only a week prior to this test flight. On the strength of that steady progress, the company projects its first space shot to be completed in early 2019.
About LauncherOne
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LauncherOne, at 70 feet long, is the length of two London buses and will travel at astonishing speeds of over 20x the speed of sound (17,500mph)
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The rocket weighs 57,000 pounds or 25,800kg which is the equivalent to 25 small family cars
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LauncherOne’s payload will carry satellites which could be as small as a loaf of bread or as large as a household refrigerator. The satellites will deliver everything from internet, in even the most remote regions, to advanced weather tracking systems to help in the battle against climate change.
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The rocket is ‘mated’ with a converted Virgin Atlantic plane ‘Cosmic Girl’, which will carry the rocket to an altitude of 30,000+feet before the rocket engages its thrusters taking it to outer space
Images and video courtesy of virgin.com
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