Virgin Orbit Announces First Orbital Launch Demo

We’re happy to bring you some very exciting news today! The Virgin Orbit team has announced the window for our first orbital Launch Demo with the LauncherOne vehicle.

WHEN

Virgin Orbit’s Launch Demo is scheduled to launch during a four-hour window that opens on Sunday, May 24th, at 10 A.M. PT. We will only proceed with the mission if all conditions for launch are nominal. Although air-launched systems like ours are less vulnerable to bad weather than fixed ground-launch systems, we’ll be watching the weather closely and being cautious for this maiden flight. Should our flight slip, we have launch windows open at similar times on May 25th.

WHERE

Our carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl will take off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Release of the LauncherOne rocket occurs over the Pacific Ocean, near San Nicolas Island off the California coast.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Please note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to accommodate any members of the press on-site during this event. To keep both you and our team healthy, we strongly request that you do not travel to the Mojave Air and Space Port itself; airport personnel will be enforcing COVID-19 access restrictions. For live updates as the flight progresses, follow along on Twitter (@Virgin_Orbit). Shortly after the flight ends, photos and B-roll will be available for download at Digital News Agency. Please note you will need to register to access the materials. Assets will also be available for download on our website.

For media enquiries, please contact Letty Cole (letty.cole@tvcgroup.com)

For general questions about the Virgin Group and the activities of our sister companies, please contact Michelle Mendiola (Michelle.Mendiola@virgin.com) or Nick Fox (Nick.Fox@virgin.com).