Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit describes interest in launching from Britain
Virgin Orbit says an agreement that could lead to LauncherOne missions from an English airport is part of an effort to both better meet the needs of its customers as well as support the U.K. space industry.
Virgin space companies sign new agreements with Italy
Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit announced a set of agreements July 6 with Italian companies and the Italian Space Agency that could lead to suborbital and orbital launches from a proposed Italian spaceport.
Virgin Orbit wins FAA license for first LauncherOne mission
Virgin Orbit has received a license from the Federal Aviation Administration for the first launch of its LauncherOne vehicle, which the company hopes to perform later this summer.
Virgin Orbit gears up for captive carry test flight
Virgin Orbit is planning a key test of its LauncherOne vehicle as soon as next week, a final step before the vehicle’s first launch later this summer.
Spaceflight signs agreement with Virgin Orbit
Spaceflight announced June 25 an agreement with Virgin Orbit for a future dedicated rideshare mission as it seeks to diversify its options for launching smallsats.
To trim rocket costs, Virgin Orbit leans on manufacturing software
Virgin Orbit’s campaign to design, build and fly LauncherOne, its air-launched rocket for small satellites, relies heavily on manufacturing software.
Industry warns of launch vehicle glut
The launch industry is facing a shakeout in the coming years that could result in the failure of the vast majority of companies developing new vehicles, industry executives warned at a conference.
Virgin Orbit aims to offer responsive launch and constellation maintenance services
Virgin Orbit plans to offer customers a variety of services including responsive launch, maintenance of large satellite constellations and potentially debris removal.
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Smallsat launch providers face pricing pressure from Chinese vehicles
Companies that are developing small launch vehicles or who provide rideshare launch services say they expect new Chinese launch vehicles to drive down launch prices, raising concerns among some of unfair competition.
GomSpace taps Virgin Orbit to launch nanosatellites for tracking ships and planes
Virgin Orbit, which expects to debut the air-launched LauncherOne rocket by summer, signed a contract Jan. 16 with GomSpace to send eight nanosatellites into orbit next year to track airplanes and ships.
Virgin Orbit wins first Defense Department launch contract
Virgin Orbit announced Nov. 16 that it has received its first launch contract for a LauncherOne mission from a Defense Department agency.
Virgin signs agreement with Saudi Arabia for billion-dollar investment
The Virgin Group announced Oct. 26 an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund for an investment of $1 billion into Virgin’s suborbital and orbital space ventures.
Virgin Orbit still expects to fly twice a month in 2020 despite delayed test campaign
Virgin Orbit, before being spun off from human spaceflight-focused Virgin Galactic in March, had set out to complete around three test flights of LauncherOne, before ramping up for commercial operations.
Minotaur launches amid rekindled debate over surplus ICBM motors
An Orbital ATK Minotaur 4 rocket lifted off from Cape Canveral, Florida, early Saturday morning, carrying the U.S. Defense Department's Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)-5 satellite. The launch comes as a debate is flaring up again about whether companies should be able to use converted surplus intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) motors to launch commercial satellites
Virgin Orbit wins LauncherOne contract for Italian smallsat
Italian small satellite builder Sitael has signed Virgin Orbit to send a technology demonstration satellite into low-Earth orbit next year.
