LauncherOne - Virgin Galactic's satellite launching rocket

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Virgin Orbit‏ @Virgin_Orbit 9 мин. назад

And here are a few more photos, courtesy of our chase plane.

That's a wrap on today's rehearsal, the final major test before our upcoming launch demo. We'll have more updates very soon — thanks for following along today!

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 Jack Beyer‏ @thejackbeyer 6 мин. назад

Cosmic Girl has landed back at MHV after a successful cryogenic captive carry test of their Launcher One rocket. Congratulations to everyone who put in hard work to make this happen. @Virgin_Orbit @NASASpaceflight






 Pauline Acalin‏ @w00ki33 4 мин. назад

Touchdown! Cosmic Girl has safely landed from her LN2 mission. Hope all went well once the data is analyzed. Way to go VO!

for @SuperclusterHQ

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https://virginorbit.com/u-s-space-force-to-launch-three-smallsat-missions-on-launcherone/

U.S. SPACE FORCE TO LAUNCH THREE SMALLSAT MISSIONS ON LAUNCHERONE

APRIL 10, 2020

Virgin Orbit Subsidiary VOX Space Secures $35m Contract for Dedicated Launches

El Segundo, CA — April 10, 2020 — VOX Space, the Virgin Orbit subsidiary which provides responsive and affordable launch services for the U.S. national security community, has been selected to launch three dedicated missions for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), delivering multiple spacecraft to orbit for the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program-S28 (STP-S28). This launch service contract — awarded by the USSF Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Office in Albuquerque, NM — is the first task order under the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

OSP-4 allows the U.S. government to rapidly acquire flexible, resilient and affordable launch services, unlocking the ability to launch missions to space within 12 to 24 months of the task order award. This responsiveness is a critical capability in today's contested space domain.  

The goal of the STP-S28 mission is to deploy multiple technology demonstrations to Low Earth Orbit, enabling advancements in space domain awareness and communications and informing future developments of the USSF space architecture. VOX Space and Virgin Orbit will complete the mission by conducting three separate launches with the LauncherOne system, delivering more than three dozen small satellites to orbit. The schedule for these flights is subject to change, but the first launch could occur as early as October 2021.

"We're very eager to bring a new standard of flexibility in launch to the U.S. national security community with LauncherOne," said VOX Space President Mandy Vaughn. "We see the STP-S28 mission as an excellent example of how cutting-edge commercial launch systems like ours can enable the U.S. Space Force to execute missions in a way that's more tactically responsive. We look forward to working with Col. Rob Bongiovi, Lt. Col. Ryan Rose, and their excellent team at the Space and Missile System Center."

"With the space domain more contested than ever, it's crucial that we find ways to enable those responsible for space security to act quickly and effectively. Ultimately, we believe that affordable and responsive launch helps keep everyone safer — in part by creating a major disincentive for adversaries to work against existing satellites and space systems. LauncherOne is proving to be an impactful force for good as we work with our nation's leaders to modernize our space systems and help keep people safe," said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart.

"We are excited to partner with VOX Space and believe the STP-S28 mission will showcase industry innovation, international partnering and provide a gateway to work with some of the newest, leading-edge entrants for emerging small launch service providers," said Lt. Col. Ryan Rose, chief of the Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

After successfully demonstrating all major vehicle assemblies, the Virgin Orbit and VOX Space team is in the midst of final preparations for an orbital launch demonstration expected soon.

[Димитър]

Красивые картинки - это хорошо! А запускать ракету когда? Собирались в начале 2019... 

[Старый]

Димитър написал:
Красивые картинки - это хорошо! А запускать ракету когда? Собирались в начале 2019...  

Запускать несуществующую ракету опасно - может не полететь.  

[tnt22]

Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl, LauncherOne Cryogenic Captive Carry test flight

NASASpaceflight

13 апр. 2020 г.

The successful cryogenic captive carry test flight for LauncherOne under the wing of Cosmic Girl, the final major test before our upcoming launch demo.

Video and Tower Audio from Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) for NSF.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/QHJ6a6Yu31w (3:50)

[zandr]

Старый написал:
Запускать несуществующую ракету опасно - может не полететь.

https://avianews.info/virgin-orbit-vypolnila-poslednij-ispytatelnyj-polyot-pered-orbitalnym-zapuskom-launcherone/

Virgin Orbit выполнила последний испытательный полёт перед орбитальным запуском LauncherOne
12 апреля Virgin Orbit совершила заключительный испытательный полет своей системы LauncherOne, который стал последней крупной вехой перед тем, как компания совершит свою первую попытку запуска на орбиту.
Модифицированный самолет Boeing 747 компании Virgin Orbit с ракетой LauncherOne, прикрепленной к его левому крылу, вылетел из воздушно-космического порта Мохаве в Калифорнии в 14:23 по восточному времени. Самолёт пролетел над Тихим океаном к югу от Санта-Барбары, чтобы имитировать запуск, прежде чем, примерно через два часа вернуться обратно в Мохаве, с ракетой под крылом.
В прошлом Virgin Orbit уже выполняла подобные испытательные полеты, но это был первый полет с летной версией LauncherOne, заполненной топливом RP-1 и жидким азотом. Во время полета самолет выполнил маневр как припуске ракеты, при котором самолет резко тянет вверх после запуска.
В заявлении от 10 апреля Virgin Orbit описала предстоящий полет как "полную репетицию запуска» для самолета и наземных операций, за исключением использования жидкого азота, как более безопасной альтернативы жидкому кислороду, используемому для запуска ракеты-носителя. Это испытание, по словам компании, было также "последним крупным шагом перед нашим демонстрационным запуском", или первой попыткой орбитального запуска.
Virgin Orbit планировала осуществить полет с подвешенной ракетой в начале этого года, но он задержался, отчасти из-за пандемии коронавируса. В то время как многие космические компании, признанные правительственными учреждениями "жизненно важными" и получившие таким образом разрешение оставаться открытыми, Virgin Orbit отправила своих сотрудников домой с оплатой за неделю в прошлом месяце, чтобы они могли справиться с проблемами, вызванными пандемией, а также скорректировать процедуры, чтобы обеспечить безопасное продолжение операций на местах.
Эта работа, как говорилось в предыдущем заявлении Virgin Orbit, включала в себя перенастройку своего центра управления полетами и переписывание процедур в цехе, чтобы соответствовать рекомендуемому дистанцированию. Изменения также включают более частые уборки рабочих мест и все более широкое использование средств индивидуальной защиты. Даже с учетом этих изменений, по оценкам компании, до 90% ее сотрудников по-прежнему работают удаленно.
Выполненный полёт — это последнее крупное испытание перед первой попыткой запуска. "Конечно, сначала мы изучим данные, полученные в этом полёте и проведем несколько последних репетиций, давая команде несколько дополнительных шансов попрактиковаться в своей работе с нашими новыми процедурами COVID-19″, — заявили в компании. — Но демонстрационный запуск состоится вскоре."
Virgin Orbit не указала точно, сколько времени пройдет, прежде чем эта попытка орбитального запуска может состояться. Ранее официальные представители компании подсчитали, что они будут готовы к запуску уже через пару недель после испытательного полета самолёта с подвешенной ракетой.
(spacenews.com)

[zandr]

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/54092/

Virgin Orbit получила контракт от Космических сил США
 Компания Virgin Orbit получила контракт от Космических сил США на три запуска военной нагрузки, передает SpaceNews. Речь идет о миссии STP-S28, включающей в себя вывод на околоземную орбиту с помощью трех РН LaunchOne 44 малых спутников. Сумма контракта – 35 миллионов долларов.
А.Ж.

[tnt22]

Cryogenic Captive Carry Test

Virgin Orbit

15 апр. 2020 г.

Our recent cryogenic (LN2) captive carry flight represented the most realistic rehearsal of our launch system and procedures to date, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart had a few words to share as we ready ourselves for an orbital launch demonstration next.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/U7uNxrrlDoo (0:59)

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Virgin Orbit ✔@Virgin_Orbit9:46 PM - May 1, 2020

We're celebrating a big win this week after the successful completion of a wet dress rehearsal with LauncherOne — just in time for #NationalSpaceDay!




9:46 PM - May 1, 2020

Those of you familiar with spaceflight will know that wet dress rehearsals with all commodities loaded is one of the last major events before launch. Our team did a fantastic job!

[tnt22]

--Del--

[tnt22]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/04/virgin-orbits-first-launch-could-happen-later-this-month/

Virgin Orbit's first launch could happen later this month
May 4, 2020 | Stephen Clark


Virgin Orbit's carrier jet, named Cosmic Girl, takes off April 12 fr om the Mojave Air and Space Port with the LauncherOne rocket under its left wing. Credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

Virgin Orbit could attempt its first orbital test launch later this month over the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles, capping a development program for an air-launched small satellite carrier that began in earnest eight years ago.

The small satellite launch company, part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, entered the final phase of pre-flight testing last week with a ground fueling test of its first flight-worthy LauncherOne rocket.

Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit's CEO, said the company is on track for the rocket's first demonstration launch in May.

The LauncherOne rocket is designed to compete with other commercial smallsat launchers, such as Rocket Lab's Electron booster, for contracts to deliver CubeSats and microsatellites to orbit for commercial customers, the U.S. military and NASA. Virgin Orbit says it can haul up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of cargo into a 310-mile-high (500-kilometer) polar sun-synchronous orbit, a standard operating orbit for Earth-imaging satellites.

A dedicated launch by Virgin Orbit sells for around $12 million.

Virgin Orbit completed a cryogenic captive carry test of the LauncherOne rocket April 12, demonstrating the performance of the launch vehicle, its Boeing 747 carrier jet, telemetry and tracking systems, and ground teams. For the captive carry test, Virgin Orbit loaded the two-stage rocket with kerosene fuel, high-pressure gases and super-cold liquid nitrogen to simulate the cryogenic temperature of liquid oxygen, which the LauncherOne vehicle will consume with kerosene during a real launch.

"That was really the capstone test for the development program," Hart said in a recent interview with Spaceflight Now. "We will do a couple of wet dress rehearsals over the next couple of weeks just to flow LOX (liquid oxygen) through the system and verify any minor tweaks we make to the countdown.

Virgin Orbit announced Friday that one of the two planned wet dress rehearsals was successfully completed.

"We'll have our mission readiness review and out launch readiness review, and then we'll be ready to fly," Hart said.

"We're a small number of weeks, and it's really dependent upon, just making sure that there's nothing in the data that pops up ... May is what we're targeting," Hart said.

With its headquarters and rocket factory in Long Beach, California, Virgin Orbit was founded in 2017 as a spinoff to Virgin Galactic, Branson's suborbital space tourism company. Virgin Galactic managed the early years of LauncherOne's development.

Along with Branson's Virgin Group, other investors in Virgin Orbit include Aabar Investments, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund.

During the April 12 captive carry flight, Virgin Orbit's Boeing 747 carrier jet took off fr om Mojave Air and Space Port in California's high desert and flew off the coast. With a four-person crew of pilots and launch support engineers, the jumbo jet flew a race track pattern over the Pacific Ocean before lining up for a simulated launch run west of San Nicolas Island, which is owned by the U.S. Navy.

The targeted drop point is located roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) west-southwest of Long Beach.

Pilot Kelly Latimer commanded the carrier jet — a modified passenger airliner taken fr om the fleet of sister company Virgin Atlantic — into climb angle of more than 25 degrees. On a real launch, the nearly 30-ton rocket will be released fr om a pylon under the 747's left wing during the pull-up maneuver at an altitude of around 35,000 feet (nearly 10,700 meters).

Four seconds after release, the rocket's kerosene-fueled NewtonThree engine will ignite with 73,500 pounds of thrust to begin climbing into orbit.


The drop point for Virgin Orbit's first test launch is located over the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles. Credit: Google Maps/Spaceflight Now

Virgin Orbit is proceeding with the LauncherOne's debut launch while taking precautions to combat the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time the company readies for the demonstration launch, Virgin Orbit engineers are producing simplified ventilator devices to help patients with moderate cases of the COVID-19 viral disease.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Virgin Orbit's ventilator design, which was conceived and produced in less than a month, for emergency use April 23. The company said the California Emergency Medical Services Authority ordered a batch of the "bridge ventilators" for potential use in hospitals throughout the state.

In an interview with Spaceflight Now, Hart said Virgin Orbit adjusted the layout of the company's launch control rooms for the LauncherOne demonstration flight to reduce the chances of exposure to the coronavirus for company employees.

"We have conversations about this every day, and pretty much every week, we either alter course or adjust as we need," Hart said. "So far, with the provisions that we put in place, we've been in pretty good shape. And we're trying to be leading edge. We monitor our peers in other companies, and what people are doing, what the CDC is advising, what the governor's office is mandating, but we also look at best practices across businesses."

Virgin Orbit needs fewer than a dozen technicians and engineers to prepare the 70-foot-long (21-meter) rocket for launch. On launch day, ground teams at Mojave Air and Space Port will connect and disconnect propellant loading lines, perform inspections and complete other tasks before the carrier aircraft — named "Cosmic Girl" — taxi to the runway for takeoff.

"We'll have 10 who come in periodically to the rocket, during about two different periods of about a half an hour," Hart said. "We'll have the aircraft ground crew of roughly four or five people who come in at the key moments when the aircraft needs to taxi out, and then we'll have the four flight crew, and then me."

For the first launch, the company will distribute its launch controllers and engineering support team among six rooms in Mojave and at Virgin Orbit's headquarters in Long Beach. Virgin Orbit also installed dividers between the control consoles.

"Normally, you want eye-to-eye compact," Hart said. "In this case, dividers are both really beneficial fr om a health point of view, and it also gives you some peace of mind. We did quite a bit of work on the facility itself. We went fr om probably two-and-a-half rooms to more like six rooms. Big difference."

The launch control team has also rehearsed countdown procedures virtually, he said.

"So we ran through countdowns while people were sitting at home, going through nominal and off-nominal ops, and going through the handbook and all our malfunction procedures, so they could get the hang of going through a countdown where you don't have eye-to-eye contact."

We're looking forward to it," Hart said. "We're going to stay very focused. Launch, by its very nature, requires a laser focus. Hopefully, COVID doesn't get us anywhere and we're able to manage through it in the current modes that we're in. I'm keeping my eyes peeled. If we see distractions or issues pop up in the environment, we'll rethink and replan."


Virgin Orbit last week completed a wet dress rehearsal on its LauncherOne rocket. Credit: Virgin Orbit

Hart estimated that the work slow-down caused by the company's initial response to the coronavirus pandemic caused a delay of around three weeks in LauncherOne's debut test flight.

The successful outcome of the April 12 captive carry test raised confidence in Virgin Orbit's readiness for the first launch, Hart said.

"The hardware and software performed excellently, just perfectly. But more to the point, the teams and the orchestration of the overall effort went like clockwork," he said. "We have a ground ops team, we have a mission control team, we have pilots and launch engineers, and of course engineering support. What was really impressive to me was just how well the teams in this new environment, with new communication protocols, how they supported each other and coordinated. It was a beautifully orchestrated day.

"Coming into the day, we had all the parts done," Hart said. "At the end of the day, we had a launch system."

Last year, Virgin Orbit completed a series of flights of the carrier jet with a test version of the LauncherOne rocket, culminating in a drop of the inert rocket over Edwards Air Force Base, California. The rocket was filled with water to simulate the weight of a fully-fueled LauncherOne vehicle, and the test unit impacted the ground at Edwards after the 747 pilots command its release.

At the time, the company aimed to perform its first test launch before the end of 2019.

"The areas wh ere programs usually slow down is wh ere components come into systems," Hart said. "It is very difficult to foresee what complexities or difficulties will appear during those. Whether it's our first captive carry test last year, or our stage hotfire test, you can't go through any of those system activities until everything is done, so anything that's either got a problem, a new analytical result, a component failure, a software problem, any of those at that point stops you.

"Those are the areas wh ere you just have to put your head down with the team and burn through those, foresee as many as you can, and the ones that pop up in the 11th hour, drive through," he said ."I'm happy to say that the team has had the wherewithal and perseverance and resilience to drive through a ton of those to get us to wh ere we are today."

Hart said Virgin Orbit has its launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration, which reviewed the company's planned use of an autonomous flight termination system. The destruct mechanism would be used to terminate the flight if the rocket deviates from its expected trajectory after launch.

For launch tracking, Virgin Orbit will use its own telemetry station at the company's Long Beach headquarters, along with other  telemetry stations in Baja California, Antarctica and Mauritius, Hart said. U.S. military launch range facilities at nearby Vandenberg Air Force Base will not play an active role in the test launch.

"A lot of the focus of this system is the flexibility," Hart said. "We wanted to ... make sure that it was as self-contained as possible and that we weren't slave to a lot of assets that have a lot of different stakeholders, wh ere you can get stopped and started continually.

"So we're flying out of Mojave, we have our own telemetry connections, we have autonomous flight termination, we fly over the water, so the sensitivities associated with those are a bit modulated than if you're starting your rocket flight near a populated area," Hart said. "And the 747 allows us to go a lot of different directions and go to a lot of different orbits."


Virgin Orbit says it is on the cusp of its first orbital test flight. Credit: Virgin Orbit

On the inaugural LauncherOne test flight, the rocket will carry Virgin Orbit's own "test payloads," Hart said.

"It is an engineering test of the system," Hart said. "Of course, we would love it to get to orbit. The more of the system that we can exercise, the more confidence that we'll have for the next flight. We do know, and we're mindful, that a first flight is not without risk.

"So if we get through captive carry, first stage, into second stage, every single point that we get through closer to orbit, we'll be verifying huge parts of the system," he said. "We're not publishing the exact orbit at this point (for the first flight), but it's a low Earth orbit, significantly de-rated for this first flight."

Hart said Virgin Orbit aims to restart the second stage's NewtonFour engine once in space, validating the rocket's ability to deliver payloads to different orbits on the same mission.

"We're planning to exercise the whole system, so we will be restarting the upper stage," he said. That's in our plan. We have a payload that, if all goes well, we would deploy."

Virgin Orbit has not disclosed any details about the payloads to be launched on the rocket's first flight.

Hart said Virgin Orbit plans to have a chase plane for the launch, and video cameras are mounted on the aircraft and the the LauncherOne vehicle itself to capture the rocket's release from the carrier jet, first stage ignition and climb into space.

But the company does not plan to provide a live webcast for the LauncherOne demonstration flight. Instead, Virgin Orbit will release updates on social media as the flight progresses, Hart said.

"On this flight, we'll have updates," he said. "I don't think we'll have continuous video for this first launch. But we'll be pushing things out as far as how we're doing in ground processing, wh ere we are in taxiing, and how we're doing as we go through the flight."

Hart said Virgin Orbit is looking at producing live video streams for the public on future missions.

"It's just, for this first one, there's so much for us to track and get our arms around, it adds another level of complexity that we just didn't want to get into," Hart said.

[tnt22]

К #290

 Virgin Orbit‏ @Virgin_Orbit 28 мин. назад

It's been humbling to see LauncherOne take shape over time as our team meticulously works through these increasingly complex engineering challenges. Last week's LOX wet dress rehearsal was beautifully executed, so we'll continue to move with gusto toward our Launch Demo.

[tnt22]

https://voxspace.com/press/vox-space-readies-to-launch-from-andersen

MAY 7, 2020

VOX SPACE READIES TO LAUNCH FROM ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE IN GUAM

Newly Signed CSOSA Annex Creates Baseline for Virgin Orbit to Fly First Space Launch from Guam

El Segundo, California — May 7, 2020 — VOX Space, the Virgin Orbit subsidiary which provides responsive and affordable launch services for the U.S. national security community, has signed a new agreement with the Department of the Air Force, allowing the company's LauncherOne system to conduct missions to space from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. VOX Space President Mandy Vaughn and U.S. Air Force 36thWing Commander Brig. Gen. Gentry Boswell, signed the Commercial Space Operations Support Agreement (COSOSA) Annex in early April, setting the stage for the STP-27VP mission, VOX Space's first launch from Andersen Air Force Base.

Virgin Orbit and VOX Space first expressed interest in launching from the Pacific island of Guam in mid-2019. Due to Guam's low latitude and clear launch trajectories in almost all directions, the company's uniquely mobile LauncherOne system can effectively serve all orbital inclinations, such as delivering up to 450kg to a 500km equatorial orbit.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP) procured the STP-27VP launch with VOX Space under the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI), leveraging the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) Other Transaction Agreement. One of the first missions to fly on LauncherOne, the STP-27VP manifest consists of several CubeSats from various government agencies performing experiments and technology demonstrations for the DoD.

"We're very grateful to Brig. Gen. Deanna Burt and her team at HQ USSF/S3, as well as Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Boswell, Vice Commander Col. Matthew Nicholson, and all of the excellent airmen and women of the 36thWing and Pacific Air Forces for their support," said VOX Space President Mandy Vaughn. "Lt. Gen. John Thompson and his team at the Space and Missile Systems Center have also provided visionary leadership throughout this process. We're very excited to demonstrate the flexibility and mobility that only LauncherOne can offer."

Because the system is not tied to a traditional ground-based launch site, LauncherOne will leverage key locations around the world including Guam to provide responsive and affordable flights to space for a broad variety of customers. Even now, VOX Space and Virgin Orbit are working closely with multiple allied governments and international organizations interested in establishing launch capabilities closer to home.

After successfully demonstrating all major vehicle assemblies and completing an extensive flight test program, the Virgin Orbit team is in the midst of final preparations for an orbital launch demonstration expected soon.

[tnt22]

 Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 6 мин. назад

Virgin Orbit is preparing to conduct the Demo launch of LauncherOne!

"We have a window open for several hours per day this coming weekend, and are meeting now to determine when we plan on making the first attempt" - Virgin Orbit.

[tnt22]

https://virginorbit.com/announcing-the-window-for-our-launch-demo/

Announcing the Window for Our Launch Demo

MAY 20, 2020



We are extremely excited to announce that the window for our Launch Demo mission starts on Sunday, May 24^th, and extends through Monday, May 25^th, with an opportunity to launch from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. Pacific (17:00 – 21:00 GMT) each day.

That means that this weekend, our 747 carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl will prepare to take off from Mojave Air and Space Port, fly out over the Pacific ocean, and release our two-stage, orbital rocket, LauncherOne — which will then proceed to ignite its engine in mid-air for the first time.

This Launch Demo marks the apex of a five-year-long development program. On our journey to open up space for everyone we've conducted hundreds of hotfires of our engines and our rocket stages, performed two dozen test flights with our carrier aircraft, and conducted countless other tests of every bit of the system we could test on the ground. 



Launching from the Earth to space is mind-bogglingly difficult. Thousands of components all need to function as planned while controlling high energy and flying at incredibly fast speeds. The vehicle's structures must be robust enough to tolerate traveling at up to 18,000 mph without disintegrating; the temperatures and pressures of its propellants can't be too high or too low; every internal valve must click open and closed in perfect synchronicity...  There's a long list of factors that need to line up in order to make it all the way. We're mindful of the fact that for the governments and companies who have preceded us in developing spaceflight systems, maiden flights have statistically ended in failure about half of the time.

In the future, the goal of our launches will be to deploy satellites for a new generation of space-based services. For this Launch Demo, though, our goal is to safely learn as much as possible and prove out the LauncherOne system we've worked so hard to design, build, test and operate.

The instant our Newton Three engine ignites, we will have done something no one has ever done before — lighting an orbital-class, liquid-fueled, horizontally-launched vehicle in flight. Once we reach an altitude of 50 miles it will be the first time this kind of launch system will have ever done so.

We'll continue the mission for as long as we can. The longer LauncherOne flies, the more data we'll be able to collect. Should we defy the historical odds and become one of those exceedingly rare teams to complete a mission on first attempt, we will deploy a test payload into an orbit, take our data, and then quickly de-orbit so as not to clutter the heavens.

Regardless of the ultimate conclusion of this Launch Demo, we're excited to learn as much as we can.

We are so grateful to all of you who have followed along with us during this launch campaign — our families, our customers, and all of the others who have cheered us on, offered helpful suggestions, and celebrated the goal of bringing a new type of launch service into fruition. We look forward to sharing more on flight day. For near real-time updates follow us on Twitter (@Virgin_Orbit).  See you on launch day!

[tnt22]

https://tass.ru/kosmos/8524367

20 МАЯ, 21:49
CNBC: Virgin Orbit планирует испытать в США систему воздушного старта ракеты
По данным телеканала, испытания могут пройти 23, 24 или 25 мая


НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 20 мая. /ТАСС/. Компания Virgin Orbit британского миллиардера Ричарда Брэнсона планирует в предстоящие выходные испытать над Тихим океаном систему воздушного запуска ракет-носителей, предназначенных для вывода спутников на орбиту Земли. Об этом сообщил в среду телеканал CNBC со ссылкой на Virgin Orbit.

Испытание намечено на 13:00 по времени Восточного побережья США (20:00 мск) и может состояться 23 мая, 24 мая или 25 мая. Окончательное решение о конкретной дате пока не принято.

План испытания предусматривает отделение ракеты от модифицированного самолета Boeing 747, который вылетит из космопорта в пустыне Мохаве (штат Калифорния) и совершит полет над Тихим океаном. В июле прошлого года экипаж самолета осуществил сброс носителя с металлическими болванками, водой и антифризом для придания необходимой массы. В этот раз ракета будет нести топливо и в автоматическом режиме запустит собственные двигатели после сброса.

В Virgin Orbit информировали телеканал, что на прошлой неделе в рамках подготовки к испытанию экипаж Boeing 747 поднимался в воздух с ракетой с топливом. Подготовка не предусматривала сброс носителя и его старт в воздухе.

Спойлер

Другая компания Брэнсона Virgin Galactic 1 мая провела первое летное испытание в небе над штатом Нью-Мексико космолета Unity серии SpaceShipTwo. Unity стартовал на высоте 15,2 км, отделившись от самолета-носителя Eve, и совершил планирующий полет, приземлившись в космопорте в Нью-Мексико. Аппарат развил скорость в 0,7 Маха. Космолеты серии SpaceShipTwo разрабатывались для выполнения регулярных туристических суборбитальных полетов.

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Прим. Исключаем 23 мая - см. пресс-релиз Virgin Orbit (#295)

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https://tass.ru/kosmos/8526157

21 МАЯ, 10:01
Virgin Orbit 24 мая проведет испытания орбитальной ракеты в воздухе над Тихим океаном
Предстоящее демонстрационное испытание готовилось пять лет

НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 21 мая. /ТАСС/. Компания Virgin Orbit британского миллиардера Ричарда Брэнсона планирует 24 мая провести над Тихим океаном демонстрационное испытание системы воздушного запуска ракеты-носителя, предназначенной для вывода спутников на орбиту Земли. Как сообщила Virgin Orbit в среду, она впервые попытается отправить ракету таким способом в космос.


Испытание намечено на ближайшее воскресенье и при неблагоприятных обстоятельствах будет перенесено на 25 мая. В обоих случаях временное окно открывается в 10:00 по времени Западного побережья США (20:00 мск) и закрывается через четыре часа. "Это означает, что самолет Boeing 747 под названием "Космическая девушка" будет подготовлен к тому, чтобы подняться в воздух из космопорта в пустыне Мохаве, совершить полет над Тихим океаном и сбросить орбитальную ракету LauncherOne, состоящую из двух ступеней. Ракета затем впервые запустит двигатель в воздухе", - пояснила компания.

Предстоящее демонстрационное испытание готовилось пять лет. Virgin Orbit за это время провела сотни огневых испытаний ракетных двигателей, два десятка испытательных полетов модернизированного "Боинга-747" и бесчисленное количество тестов узлов и элементов системы воздушного старта. В июле прошлого года экипаж самолета осуществил сброс носителя с металлическими болванками, водой и антифризом для придания необходимой массы. В этот раз ракета будет заправлена топливом и в автоматическом режиме запустит собственные двигатели после сброса.

Virgin Orbit отдает себе отчет, что летные испытания схожих систем, осуществленные правительственными организациями и частными компаниями, статистически заканчивались провалом на середине отпущенного времени. В данном случае задача заключается в том, чтобы носитель пролетел как можно дольше, позволив бортовым приборам собрать как можно больше полезной информации. В случае успешного выхода в космос LauncherOne выведет на орбиту экспериментальный груз и сойдет с орбиты, чтобы не создавать помех другим аппаратам.

Спойлер

Другая компания Брэнсона Virgin Galactic 1 мая провела первое летное испытание в небе над штатом Нью-Мексико космолета Unity серии SpaceShipTwo. Unity стартовал на высоте 15,2 км, отделившись от самолета-носителя Eve, и совершил планирующий полет, приземлившись в космопорте в Нью-Мексико. Аппарат развил скорость в 0,7 Маха. Космолеты серии SpaceShipTwo разрабатывались для выполнения регулярных туристических суборбитальных полетов.

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https://www.panasonic.aero/press-release/virgin-orbit-makes-the-inflight-connection-with-panasonic-avionics/

Press Release
Virgin Orbit Makes The Inflight Connection with Panasonic Avionics
05/21/20

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) has been selected by Virgin Orbit to provide inflight connectivity for its airborne rocket launch platform.

Panasonic's latest generation high-speed inflight connectivity system has been installed on Cosmic Girl, the modified Boeing 747-400 that serves as the carrier aircraft for Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne system. Virgin Orbit is currently undergoing final rehearsals for an orbital launch demonstration expected soon.

The inflight connectivity service will enable Virgin Orbit to monitor the health of the launch system over land and sea. The high bandwidth capacity of Panasonic's connectivity network will ensure Virgin Orbit's mission control center can quickly and easily communicate with the rocket prior to launch.

Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, says, "Virgin Orbit is set to deliver an exciting step forward in satellite launching technology, and we are thrilled to support their vision with our inflight connectivity."

"Panasonic Avionics' proven inflight connectivity services are used by airlines around the world to provide operational connectivity for not just passengers, but aircraft and their systems, and we look forward to supporting Virgin Orbit by providing a critical live link between air and ground."

Virgin Orbit builds and operates the most flexible and responsive satellite launcher ever invented: LauncherOne, a dedicated launch service for commercial and government-built small satellites.

LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and will be air-launched from Virgin Orbit's modified Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft – allowing it to operate from locations all over the world in order to best serve each customer's needs.

"We designed LauncherOne to be more mobile and flexible than any other platform out there, and that's required us to implement innovative, cutting-edge solutions throughout the system. We're grateful to Panasonic Avionics for their support — helping us keep eyes on our flight crew, Cosmic Girl, and the rocket as we fly out to our launch point. We're certainly looking forward to having this technology in action during our upcoming launch demo," said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart.

– Ends –

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Уведомления:

NOTAMs

KZLA

A0930/20 - DCC LAUNCHERONE F1 STNR ALT RESERVATION WI AN AREA DEFINED AS
3314N11953W TO 3253N11931W TO 3249N11928W TO 3248N11927W TO 3142N11855W TO 3132N11915W TO 3255N11952W TO 3257N11953W TO POINT OF ORIGIN.
SFC - UNL, 23 MAY 17:00 2020 UNTIL 23 MAY 21:00 2020.
CREATED: 20 MAY 12:28 2020

05/150 (A0943/20) - AIRSPACE DCC LAUNCHERONEF1 STNR ALT RESERVATION WI AN AREA DEFINED AS
3314N11953W TO 3253N11931W TO 3249N11928W TO 3248N11927W TO 3142N11855W TO 3132N11915W TO 3255N11952W TO 3257N11953W TO POINT OF ORIGIN.
SFC-UNL. 24 MAY 17:00 2020 UNTIL 24 MAY 21:00 2020.
CREATED: 21 MAY 11:25 2020

NOTMAR

NAVAREA XII 217/20

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
    231700Z TO 232100Z MAY,
    ALTERNATE 241700Z TO 242100Z MAY AND
    251700Z TO 252100Z MAY IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-10-35N 117-47-52W, 28-11-04N 117-18-46W,
    32-45-48N 119-23-34W, 33-08-27N 119-37-00W,
    33-05-38N 120-01-04W, 31-26-15N 119-13-29W.
B. 23-40-22N 115-41-11W, 22-39-51N 115-52-53W,
    21-54-40N 115-31-38W, 21-33-36N 114-47-51W,
    22-17-17N 114-31-23W, 22-55-31N 114-54-47W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 252200Z MAY 20.//

Authority: VIRGIN ORBIT, LLC 200012Z MAY 20.

Date: 200031Z MAY 20
Cancel: 25220000 May 20