Virgin Orbit is rapidly resuming flight tests in 2021, with a launch window for its next orbital demonstration opening on January 10th and extending for the remainder of the month. This builds upon a previous attempt in May of last year, which unfortunately concluded before the LauncherOne rocket achieved orbit – specifically, shortly after separation from the Cosmic Girl carrier aircraft.

Although the prior mission did not unfold as planned, it represented a crucial step forward for the small satellite launch provider, yielding valuable data regarding vehicle performance during flight. LauncherOne experienced a brief period of rocket booster ignition before onboard safety mechanisms initiated an automatic shutdown. The company initially aimed to conduct this second test flight before the close of the previous year, but challenges, including those related to COVID-19, limited progress to a complete wet dress rehearsal – a comprehensive simulation of all pre-flight procedures with fully fueled vehicles.

This upcoming mission will again focus on achieving orbital launch, and carries increased significance as it includes genuine customer payloads from NASA. These payloads consist of several small satellite science experiments and technology demonstrations, chosen to align with the mission’s parameters (reducing potential loss in the event of launch failure), though successful delivery to their intended orbit remains the primary objective.

The flexible launch window suggests Virgin Orbit will prioritize optimal conditions before initiating takeoff from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Therefore, January 10th should be considered the earliest potential launch date, rather than a definitive one. A successful launch would establish Virgin Orbit among a limited number of private companies operating small launch vehicles capable of reaching orbit, making this mission a focal point for the industry as Cosmic Girl prepares for its next flight with LauncherOne.