Virgin Orbit aircraft successfully launches satellites
Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc. (VORB), the operator of space launches, has regularly demonstrated the ability to launch satellites into near-Earth orbit. Despite the growing competition in the market of “small” launches, Virgin Orbit has the opportunity to grow sales thanks to its unique launch platform. Last week, Virgin Orbit launched seven CubeSats (small satellites) into orbit for three customers at once.
It was the third successful launch, a positive signal for investors. The launch was special. He showed the valuable advantages of the Virgin Orbit offer, which most competitors do not have. Virgin Orbit uses the LauncherOne platform to launch satellites, which Ffin.ru mentioned earlier. It is a complex of carrier aircraft that rises to a great height and drops missiles that perform the role of an upper stage.
The rocket is capable of launching small satellites into low Earth orbit. In addition, the use of the aircraft allows you to abandon the expensive first stage of the launch vehicle. Finally, there is another crucial advantage. So, in the last flight, the carrier aircraft flew further into the Pacific Ocean and took a position for launch, which allowed, at the exact energy costs, to launch satellites into orbit at the height of 500 km and with an inclination of 45 degrees.
Usually, such an orbit from the west coast of the United States is inaccessible and requires orbital maneuvering, which consumes a lot of fuel. The main advantage of LauncherOne. The aircraft can launch a rocket from different points, offering customers the opportunity to launch small satellites into almost any orbit. Competitors with small ground-launch missiles do not have such an opportunity.
There is a demand for such launches. In the last mission, the services of Virgin Orbit by the NASA Space Agency and US Air Force researchers who tested new technologies. The Polish developer of remote sensing satellites SatRevolution and the British startup SteamJet Space Systems are trying a unique engine that uses water as fuel.
