Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit expects first U.K. launch in August
Virgin Orbit expects to perform its first launch from England in late August, pending award of a British launch license, a company executive said May 25.
Virgin Orbit projects growth despite widening loss
Despite a widening loss in the first quarter, Virgin Orbit executives said they believe they have enough financial runway for their air launch business to gain altitude this year.
Orbex unveils prototype of rocket preparing for UK’s first vertical launch
British microlauncher startup Orbex unveiled a full-scale prototype May 11 of what it hopes will be the first-ever vertical rocket launched to orbit from British soil.
National Reconnaissance Office partners with U.K. on space mission to fly on Virgin Orbit rocket
The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office and the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense will launch a joint mission this summer on Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket.
Space experiment to push standardization in small satellites
An experiment scheduled to launch this fall on Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket will try to show a faster and cheaper way for the space industry to test technologies on orbit.
Virgin Orbit looks beyond satellite launch for growth opportunities
Small launch vehicle company Virgin Orbit says it sees opportunities not just in satellite launch but also in hypersonics as it looks to increase its revenue.
Poland, Virgin Orbit partner on Eastern Europe satellite launch initiative
In a bid to secure a domestic launch capability, the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) signed a letter of intent with Virgin Orbit to use the U.S. company’s air-launched LauncherOne system as soon as next year.
Lawmakers ask House appropriators to add $50 million for DoD ‘tactically responsive launch’
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in a letter Jan. 31 asked House defense appropriators to add $50 million to the Pentagon’s 2022 budget for tactically responsive space launch.
Regulators uncertain on schedule for first U.K. launch
Plans to host the first orbital launches from the United Kingdom this year are moving ahead despite uncertainty about when regulators will grant licenses for those launches.
NASA selects a dozen companies for smallsat launch services
NASA awarded contracts Jan. 26 to a dozen companies, ranging from industry stalwarts to startups yet to launch their first rocket, to provide low-cost launches of agency smallsats.
Industry offers cautious optimism about state of space investment
After a year that saw the rise and potential fall of one tool for space companies to raise money, executives and investors have varying degrees of optimism about the state of the industry heading into 2022.
Virgin Orbit launches seven cubesats on third operational mission
Virgin Orbit placed seven cubesats for three customers into orbit Jan. 13 on the third consecutive successful operational flight of its LauncherOne air-launch system.
Virgin Orbit to demonstrate air-launch flexibility on upcoming mission
Virgin Orbit is preparing to launch a set of smallsats as both a demonstration of the flexibility of its air-launch system and its ability to increase its cadence of launches.
Space SPACs look to rebound in 2022
Space companies used mergers with special purpose acquisition corporations, or SPACs, to grow their businesses in 2021, but many shareholders were left underwater at the end of the year.
Virgin Orbit raises far less than expected from SPAC merger
Virgin Orbit will get less than half the money it originally expected from its merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) as that deal wins shareholder approval.
Virgin Orbit investing in startups as SPAC merger wraps up
As Virgin Orbit prepares to complete its merger with a SPAC, the launch provider has announced a series of partnerships and investments to diversify its business.
Virgin Orbit adds Spire satellite to next launch
Virgin Orbit will fly a Spire cubesat in addition to several other payloads on its next LauncherOne launch, scheduled for no earlier than Dec. 22.
Virgin Orbit bullish on national security launch
Virgin Orbit is actively pursuing new business in the national security market, executives said Nov. 17 during an “Investors Day” event.
Virgin Orbit, Japanese airline team up for air-launch system
Virgin Orbit has entered an agreement with the owner of Japan's All Nippon Airways for the procurement of 20 flights of Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket from an airport in Japan.
Launch companies optimistic about future demand
Launch companies that have suffered from flat or declining traditional markets in recent years say they believe a surge of demand, primarily from satellite megaconstellations, will boost their businesses later this decade.
