Virgin Orbit Launches First Commercial Payloads to Space

Virgin Orbit Achieves First Commercial Launch Success

Virgin Orbit has successfully completed its inaugural commercial launch, establishing itself as a new, verified provider of small satellite launch services. This milestone signifies the company’s capability to reliably deliver payloads into space.

Launch Details and Payload

The LauncherOne rocket was deployed from its carrier aircraft at approximately 11:45 AM EDT. A sequence of successful engine ignitions and stage separations followed, culminating in the spacecraft reaching its intended low Earth orbit.

The mission included a diverse manifest of seven payloads. Notably, it carried the Netherlands’ first dedicated defense satellite.

Supporting Defense and Commercial Initiatives

The launch also included cubesats developed by the U.S. Department of Defense under the Rapid Agile Launch initiative. This program aims to validate the feasibility of deploying small spacecraft rapidly, utilizing flexible launch platforms.

Virgin Orbit’s horizontal takeoff capability, from standard runways, provides the increased flexibility sought by this initiative.

Expanding Constellations with SatRevolution

Two Earth observation satellites belonging to Polish startup SatRevolution were also onboard. Further launches are planned to contribute to the build-out of SatRevolution’s planned constellation of 14 spacecraft.

Future Plans and Increased Launch Cadence

Following a successful demonstration mission in January – which marked the first time LauncherOne reached orbit – Virgin Orbit intends to accelerate its launch schedule.

At least one additional commercial mission is tentatively scheduled for later this year, with numerous launches anticipated throughout 2022.

Payload Capacity Comparison

LauncherOne boasts a payload capacity of approximately 1,100 pounds to low Earth orbit. This capacity is greater than that of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, which can deliver around 661 pounds to the same orbit.

Addressing a Growing Market Need

Virgin Orbit caters to the increasing demand from small satellite operators. While SpaceX currently provides rideshare options, Virgin Orbit offers the potential for more dedicated launch services.

This is particularly valuable for operators seeking to launch a limited number of small spacecraft for smaller constellations.

Strategic Advantages in Defense and Security

The company’s ability to vary its launch location in the future presents a significant competitive advantage, especially within the defense and security sectors.