Billionaire Virgin Orbit’s Richard Branson aims to reach space for the first time on Sunday by launching a rocket from mid-air, a major effort after launching its first test last year. stad.
If conditions continue on Sunday, the California-based company’s 70-foot LauncherOne rocket will be lowered from the modified wing of a Boeing Co 747 with the nickname CosmicGirl at 40,000 feet in the air. The rocket then lights up its engine to break down Earth ‘s atmosphere and attempts to deliver 10 small satellites into orbit for NASA, while Virgin looks to test its technology.
The window for the launch test that came from the Adjave Air and Space Port in Southern California will begin Sunday at 1pm EST (0600 GMT). Virgin executives say high-altitude launch allows satellites to be placed in the orbit they intend to make more efficient and also reduces weather-related events compared to rockets more traditionally launched directly from an earth pad.
There is strong competition between Virgin Orbit, Firefly and US-Newrock Rocket Lab, which is designing smaller or non-traditional systems to inject smaller satellites into orbit and meet growing demand. grow. LauncherOne’s first attempt to reach a place early last year was completed seconds after it was dropped from its carrier planes.
The rocket rejected its NewtonThree engine for a few seconds but cut off in mid-air due to a broken line, Virgin Orbit Head Dan Hart said in July. Virgin Orbit has fallen behind Rocket Lab, which has completed some 17 orbital launches, although Virgin Orbit says its rocket can pull about twice the weight.
Virgin Orbit’s government services subsidiary, VOX Space LLC, is selling launches using the system to the U.S. military, with its first mission slated for October under a $ 35 million U.S. Space contract. for three missions.
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