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Virgin Orbit deploys first satellites to space

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Virgin Orbit has come good on its name just four years after being founded, successfully launching its first satellites to space. 

https://twitter.com/Virgin_Orbit/status/1350960438444511232

Cosmic Girl, the company’s customised 747-400 aircraft, took off from its Mojave Space Port base at 18.50 GMT on Sunday January 17. After reaching its launch site over the Pacific Ocean, the LauncherOne rocket containing the satellites was released from under the aircraft’s wing. The two-stage rocket first propelled itself into low Earth orbit before reigniting to circularise that orbit and release its payload of 10 NASA CubeSats.

Funding confirmed for Virgin Orbit’s Cornwall spaceport

Virgin Orbit

According to Virgin Orbit, this marks the first time that an orbital class, air-launched, liquid-fuelled rocket has reached space. The California-based company – part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group - believes the successful demonstrator flight will now pave the way for more cost-effective access to space without the need for traditional launchpad lift-offs.

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