Virgin Orbit one step closer to 2019 mission after successful test flight with “flying 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

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)

The rocket weighs 57,000 pounds or 25,800kg which is the equivalent to 25 small family cars

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.

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

B-roll footage and high res images are available to download. If you use any content or comments please reference them back to Virgin.com

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder, has also blogged about the test flight which you can read here: https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/cosmic-girl-takes-skies-rocket-under-its-wing