Virgin Orbit operated as a small satellite launch company from 2017 to 2023. They used a pretty unique air-launch system—basically, they launched rockets from a modified Boeing 747.
The company spun off from Virgin Galactic, backed by Richard Branson, and wanted to make satellite deployment faster and more flexible than those classic ground launches.
Virgin Orbit officially started on March 2, 2017, splitting off from Virgin Galactic to focus on small satellite launches. Branson’s bigger goal? He wanted to commercialize space access using new launch methods.
They built the LauncherOne system—a two-stage rocket that could carry up to 300 kg to low Earth orbit. The rocket launched from a modified Boeing 747-400 called Cosmic Girl, dropping away at about 33,000 feet.
Virgin Orbit targeted the small satellite market with what they called “rapid responsive launch.” Customers could, in theory, launch satellites from almost anywhere in the world within weeks or months after buying a flight.
Their air-launch approach came with a few perks. Flights could start from any long enough runway, not just fixed launch pads. Weather delays didn’t mess things up as much since the plane could fly around storms. The system also gave more options for where satellites could go in orbit.
Virgin Orbit operated as a subsidiary within Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. Virgin Group kept majority ownership the whole way, and the United Arab Emirates sovereign wealth fund Mubadala also invested a lot.
Virgin Group gave Virgin Orbit its initial funding and some much-needed brand recognition in aerospace. Mubadala put about $1 billion into Virgin Orbit by August 2021—so there was definitely some international faith in the project.
In December 2021, Virgin Orbit went public through a SPAC merger with NextGen Acquisition Corp. The company started trading on NASDAQ as VORB, with an initial valuation of $3.7 billion.
But even with Virgin Group’s backing, Virgin Orbit faced financial struggles right from the start. They only raised $228 million in the public offering, which was way less than the $483 million they’d hoped for. That shortfall made things tough and played a big role in the company’s eventual bankruptcy.
Dan Hart acted as Virgin Orbit’s President and CEO from the very beginning. He brought a ton of aerospace experience from his earlier job as VP of government satellite systems at Boeing.
Hart pushed hard for quick development and testing of the LauncherOne system. Under his watch, Virgin Orbit launched six times between 2020 and 2023, with four successes and two failures.
Brita O’rear took on the CFO role, handling the company’s complicated finances and public reporting. The leadership team also included Matthew Stannard, a former Royal Air Force test pilot who joined in 2019 on a three-year contract.
Their headquarters sat in Long Beach, California, and at their peak, they had more than 300 employees. By 2023, financial pressure forced them to cut back to about 100 people before shutting down operations completely.
LauncherOne became Virgin Orbit’s dedicated small-satellite launch system from 2021 to 2023. It was a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket that launched from a modified Boeing 747-400.
The system could deliver up to 300 kg of payload to Sun-synchronous orbit. Virgin Orbit aimed it squarely at the growing small satellite market.
LauncherOne stood about 21.3 meters tall and weighed around 30 tons. The rocket had two stages with different widths—the first stage was 1.8 meters across, and the second stage came in at 1.5 meters.
The first stage ran on the NewtonThree (N3) engine, which pushed out 326.8 kN of thrust in a vacuum. It burned RP-1 and liquid oxygen for roughly three minutes.
The second stage used the NewtonFour (N4) engine to finish the job. This smaller engine produced 22.2 kN of thrust and could restart multiple times, burning for about six minutes in total.
Both stages used RP-1 and liquid oxygen, which made things simpler and more reliable. The engines were built specifically for launching from an airplane at altitude.
Virgin Orbit used a modified Boeing 747-400 called Cosmic Girl to carry LauncherOne. They bought the plane from Virgin Atlantic after its commercial days were over and then gave it a serious makeover.
The rocket hooked onto a custom pylon under the plane’s left wing. Engineers designed this system to carry and drop the 30-ton rocket safely at high altitude. The plane could operate from regular airports with long enough runways.
Launches started with Cosmic Girl taking off from places like Mojave Air and Space Port in California or Newquay Airport in the UK. The plane climbed to about 10,700 meters before releasing LauncherOne. This air-launch method let them pick launch times and orbits pretty freely.
The setup ditched the need for traditional launch pads. Operators could pick different drop points over the ocean to fit each mission.
LauncherOne focused on small satellites, especially CubeSats and other smallsats. The rocket could carry 300 kg to a 500-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit—ideal for Earth observation missions. For lower orbits at 230 kilometers, the payload could go up to 500 kg.
The launch system aimed at the fast-growing small-satellite market. Universities, research groups, and commercial companies all used LauncherOne to build out satellite constellations. Each mission could take several small payloads at once.
Virgin Orbit charged about $12 million per launch. Not exactly cheap, but it made space more accessible for smaller organizations. They also offered more flexible scheduling than traditional launchers.
LauncherOne pulled off four successful orbital missions out of six tries. These flights deployed CubeSats for NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program and other customers. The service ended when Virgin Orbit went bankrupt in April 2023.
Virgin Orbit really shook things up in small satellite deployment with its air-launch system. They used a modified Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl, ditching the need for traditional ground-based launch pads and letting them launch from almost anywhere.
Virgin Galactic bought the Boeing 747-400 from Virgin Atlantic in 2015 and turned it into the first dedicated 747 space launch platform. The plane, named after the Jamiroquai song “Cosmic Girl,” went through some serious modifications to become a flying launch pad.
Engineers mounted the LauncherOne pylon on the left wing at the fifth engine spot. Airlines usually use that spot to ferry spare engines, but here it let the plane carry rockets weighing up to 57,000 pounds.
The 747 worked perfectly for this kind of mission. It’s reliable and can haul massive payloads. Boeing had previously used 747s for air-launches, like with the Space Shuttle Enterprise, but Cosmic Girl was the first to launch a commercial orbital rocket.
Cosmic Girl carried the LauncherOne rocket up to 35,000 feet, then dropped it over the Pacific Ocean. The rocket would fire its engines and head to low Earth orbit. This whole process took tight coordination between the flight crew and mission control.
Flights usually started at Mojave Air and Space Port in California, though they did launch from other countries too. The plane climbed to release altitude with the 57-foot rocket tucked under its left wing.
At the release point, pilots executed a specific maneuver to drop the rocket cleanly. LauncherOne could deliver up to 880 pounds of payload to low Earth orbit, making it a solid choice for small satellite constellations and CubeSats.
Air-launch tech gave Virgin Orbit a bunch of advantages over old-school ground systems. The mobile platform dodged weather delays since Cosmic Girl could just fly around storms or use a different airport.
This flexibility helped Virgin Orbit break into international markets. In January 2023, they pulled off the first rocket launch from UK soil at Newquay Airport in Cornwall. That showed they could serve global customers without needing permanent infrastructure.
Air-launch also cut costs by skipping the first-stage rocket engines needed for ground launches. Starting at 35,000 feet with the plane already moving gave the rocket a head start compared to ground launches.
Cosmic Girl completed six LauncherOne missions between May 2020 and January 2023. Five of those made it to orbit. The plane proved that large-scale air-launches could work for the small satellite market, and other companies definitely took notice.
After Virgin Orbit went bankrupt in April 2023, Stratolaunch bought Cosmic Girl at auction for $17 million. They renamed her Spirit of Mojave, and she’ll now support Stratolaunch’s Talon hypersonic test vehicle program.
Cosmic Girl’s success showed that converted commercial aircraft can make great space launch platforms. This idea keeps influencing new air-launch systems across the industry, with more companies chasing similar mobile launch tech.
Virgin Orbit ran operations from three main facilities, each key to its air-launch strategy. Their Long Beach headquarters handled manufacturing, Mojave Air and Space Port hosted most launches, and Spaceport Cornwall marked their international push.
Virgin Orbit set up shop in a 180,000 square-foot facility in Long Beach, California. This was the heart of their manufacturing, where engineers built LauncherOne rockets and maintained Cosmic Girl.
At its height, the Long Beach site had over 300 employees. Teams worked on rocket assembly, testing, and quality control. The facility included clean rooms for integrating satellite payloads.
Long Beach’s manufacturing lines let them build multiple LauncherOne vehicles at once. The place had advanced tooling and assembly lines made just for their two-stage rocket.
When Virgin Orbit went bankrupt in 2023, Rocket Lab bought the Long Beach facility for $16 million. The deal included all the manufacturing equipment and tooling they’d built up for LauncherOne.
Mojave Air and Space Port in California became Virgin Orbit’s main launch site. The spaceport offered the long runways and airspace needed for Cosmic Girl to take off with LauncherOne.
Five of Virgin Orbit’s six launches happened at Mojave between 2020 and 2022. The location had ideal conditions—minimal air traffic and clear paths over the Pacific.
Ground support at Mojave included rocket integration, aircraft fueling, and mission control. The spaceport’s existing infrastructure worked well for Virgin Orbit’s unique air-launch needs, so they didn’t have to build much from scratch.
After the bankruptcy, Launcher picked up the Mojave test site for $3 million. That included the special ground equipment and facilities Virgin Orbit had set up for LauncherOne.
Virgin Orbit picked Spaceport Cornwall in the United Kingdom as its first international launch site. The UK Space Agency helped fund this move as part of Britain’s expanding commercial space program.
Spaceport Cornwall ended up as Virgin Orbit’s only attempted launch site outside the United States. Cornwall Airport Newquay gave the company runway access and regulatory approval for the historic mission on January 9, 2023.
The UK launch didn’t reach orbit because of an upper stage problem. That mission carried nine satellites from seven customers and turned out to be Virgin Orbit’s last launch before bankruptcy started.
Cornwall showed off Virgin Orbit’s vision for global launch flexibility. The air-launch system was supposed to allow launches from airports all over the world, though in practice, only Mojave and Cornwall hosted real launches.
Virgin Orbit flew six LauncherOne missions between 2020 and 2023. Four of those launches delivered satellites successfully, but two ended in failure.
The launch program started with demonstration flights and then moved to operational missions for small satellite deployments.
Virgin Orbit launched its first LauncherOne rocket on May 25, 2020. This flight was a big test for the new system.
The rocket separated from Cosmic Girl, their modified Boeing 747, at 35,000 feet.
Mission Details:
The mission failed when one of the Newton Three first-stage engines shut down just seconds after ignition. A fuel line problem caused the engine to stop, so the rocket couldn’t climb high enough.
This early failure gave Virgin Orbit engineers a lot to learn from. They used the data to improve fuel system reliability and engine performance for future launches.
After the demo mission, Virgin Orbit pulled off four successful LauncherOne flights in a row. These launches helped build the company’s name in the small satellite market.
The winning streak started in January 2021 and lasted through 2022. Each mission sent up several small satellites for a mix of government and commercial customers.
Key Achievements:
Virgin Orbit proved that air-launched rockets could deliver satellites to orbit. Their approach made it possible to launch from any commercial runway—at least in theory.
Virgin Orbit’s last mission in January 2023 brought the company to a rough end. The launch happened at Spaceport Cornwall and was the first orbital rocket launch attempt from British soil.
A second-stage engine issue doomed the mission. The rocket lost several satellites when it failed to reach orbit.
This failure hit Virgin Orbit’s finances hard. The company had already been struggling with cash flow for months.
Virgin Orbit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2023, just a few months after the failed launch. Rocket Lab, Firefly, Stratolaunch, and Launcher bought up the company’s assets at auction, splitting up technology and equipment.
Virgin Orbit built key partnerships with space agencies and commercial clients around the world. The company signed launch agreements from Europe to Asia, teaming up with defense organizations and satellite operators.
Virgin Orbit worked closely with the UK Space Agency at Spaceport Cornwall. This partnership marked Britain’s move into horizontal satellite launches.
Spaceport Cornwall became Virgin Orbit’s European base. The site let the company serve customers across the continent.
The UK-US joint mission was a big moment for both countries. Virgin Orbit carried satellites for American and British government customers on this flight.
This partnership showed Virgin Orbit could support allied space operations. Launch services like these can really boost international defense ties.
Virgin Orbit landed several launch deals with satellite operators worldwide. SatRev signed a three-year agreement for satellite deployment.
Spire Global also entered a multi-year deal starting in 2023. This guaranteed them multiple launches over several years.
The company launched eight Space Test Program satellites for the US government. These missions helped prove Virgin Orbit could handle sensitive payloads.
Defense and intelligence customers got more than just launches. Virgin Orbit provided full mission packages for military needs.
Luxembourg’s Ministry of Defence signed a letter of intent with Virgin Orbit in October 2022. The goal was to develop mobile launch infrastructure for NATO partners across Europe.
This partnership aimed to give European allies more flexible space options. Virgin Orbit’s mobile launch system could operate from different locations as needed.
Astroscale teamed up with Virgin Orbit for up to 10 satellite servicing missions over the next decade. They focused on space debris removal and keeping orbit sustainable.
Virgin Orbit planned to launch from Japan through the Astroscale partnership. They also kept launch capabilities at Spaceport Cornwall for European clients.
Virgin Orbit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2023 after burning through over $1 billion and failing to secure more funding. The company went through a full asset liquidation that wrapped up by August 2023.
Virgin Orbit went public in December 2021 by merging with NextGen Acquisition Corporation II, a SPAC. This deal brought in about $228 million in net proceeds.
The public offering gave Virgin Orbit capital to expand its operations. The company joined the Nasdaq after the merger.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Group owned most of Virgin Orbit through Virgin Investments Limited. Virgin Investments also held over $70 million of Virgin Orbit notes before bankruptcy.
Going public opened up new funding sources. Still, it just wasn’t enough to keep the company afloat long-term.
Virgin Orbit faced growing financial pressures through 2022 and into 2023. A failed satellite launch in January 2023 made things even worse.
The company struggled to raise money for more missions. Virgin Orbit stopped operations and laid off most employees before filing for bankruptcy on April 4, 2023.
Virgin Investments stepped in with $74.1 million in debtor-in-possession loans during bankruptcy. This included rolling up some pre-petition notes.
The bankruptcy filing included Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc and four related companies. All cases went to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
The bankruptcy court approved Virgin Orbit’s Chapter 11 plan on July 31, 2023. The plan took effect on August 2, 2023, ending the liquidation.
Stratolaunch LLC bought Virgin Orbit’s main aircraft, the “Cosmic Girl” 747, for $17 million. This was the largest asset sale in the proceedings.
Virgin Investments got all remaining intellectual property assets as part of the settlement. The plan settled things between Virgin Orbit, Virgin Investments, and the unsecured creditors committee.
Asset sales sent proceeds to creditors and stakeholders as outlined in the bankruptcy plan. Other settlements handled WARN Act claims from laid-off staff.
Virgin Orbit faced tough competition from established aerospace companies and new startups, all chasing commercial launch services. The air-launch system set Virgin Orbit apart from traditional ground-based rockets and other platforms.
Virgin Orbit and Virgin Galactic, despite sharing the Virgin name, went after totally different markets. Virgin Galactic runs suborbital space tourism flights, taking passengers to the edge of space for a few minutes. Their SpaceShipTwo launches from a carrier plane and returns to the same spaceport.
Virgin Orbit aimed at the satellite launch market with LauncherOne. They delivered small satellites to orbit, not tourists. This meant different tech and regulatory hurdles.
Key Differences:
The two companies ran separately with their own teams and facilities. Virgin Galactic is still operating, while Virgin Orbit shut down in 2023.
Rocket Lab became Virgin Orbit’s main rival in the small satellite launch world. The New Zealand company uses ground launches with its Electron rocket and flies more often than Virgin Orbit ever did.
Competitive Position:
Other players include Firefly Aerospace, Astra, and international outfits like Skyroot and Gilmour Space Technologies. They try different things—reusable rockets, mobile launch platforms, and more.
SpaceX rules the broader launch market but mostly handles bigger payloads. That leaves room for smaller companies to focus on the growing smallsat market.
Stratolaunch bought Virgin Orbit’s Boeing 747 “Cosmic Girl” for $17 million during the bankruptcy auction. That move shows there’s still interest in air-launch tech, even after Virgin Orbit’s collapse.
Stratolaunch uses the giant Roc aircraft for hypersonic testing. Now, with the 747, they can expand air-launch for other missions. The company seems to be shifting toward specialized testing, not routine satellite launches.
Industry Impact:
The competitive field keeps shifting as companies look for better ways to launch satellites and offer unique aerospace services.
Virgin Orbit’s collapse hit Britain’s space ambitions hard. Spaceport Cornwall lost its main launch partner, and the failure exposed real gaps in the UK’s commercial space strategy.
The UK Space Agency now has to rethink how it attracts international operators and build a more diverse set of launch options.
Spaceport Cornwall now faces a pretty uncertain future after losing its anchor tenant. The team poured millions into infrastructure built for Virgin Orbit’s air-launch system.
Now, the spaceport needs to shift gears and attract new operators. A few companies have shown interest in horizontal launch capabilities.
Reaction Engines and Skyrora could become future partners for missions. It’s not a sure thing, but there’s some buzz around those names.
Cornwall’s spot on the map gives it an edge for polar and sun-synchronous orbits. Being so close to the Atlantic means safe flight corridors are right there.
That combo makes Cornwall appealing to satellite deployment companies looking for flexibility.
The UK Space Agency still backs Cornwall, even after Virgin Orbit left. Government support includes an extra £12 million for upgrades.
Britain’s space launch plans go way beyond Cornwall’s current struggles. Scotland, for example, has two big spaceport projects moving forward.
SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands is prepping for vertical launches. They’re aiming at small satellite missions starting late 2023.
Rocket Factory Augsburg, along with other European companies, already signed launch agreements. There’s a lot happening up north.
Space Hub Sutherland teamed up with Orbex for the Prime rocket program. This micro-launcher targets the booming small satellite market.
Orbex ran successful engine tests throughout 2023. Progress feels steady, at least for now.
The UK Space Agency recently put another £50 million into domestic launch capabilities. That cash supports both current spaceports and new tech development.
Active UK Spaceport Projects:
These projects could help the UK compete with established launch sites in Sweden and Norway.
Virgin Orbit’s collapse exposed some big problems in the UK’s space strategy. The country leaned too much on one international operator instead of building up local talent.
Risk management became a huge talking point. Space ventures need backup plans and several funding sources, not just one.
The UK Space Agency now pushes for more partnerships and less reliance on a single company. It’s a shift that probably should’ve happened sooner.
Technical failures in space launches happen everywhere, not just here. Virgin Orbit’s January mission joined a list of failed launches worldwide.
The Ariane 5 explosion back in 1996 cost $370 million—proof that even the big names struggle. No one’s immune to setbacks in this industry.
Financial markets also hit Virgin Orbit hard. Higher interest rates squeezed tech investments across the board.
The Silicon Valley Bank collapse just made things worse for space companies trying to find funding.
Critical Success Factors Identified:
Britain’s space ambitions aren’t going anywhere, even after these bumps. The sector actually saw 5.1% revenue growth in 2021, beating global averages.
After Virgin Orbit went bankrupt in 2023, three major aerospace companies snapped up its valuable assets and tech. Rocket Lab got the main production facility.
Stratolaunch and Vast split up the rest of the critical assets between them. Everyone seemed eager to grab a piece.
Rocket Lab came out on top after Virgin Orbit’s collapse. They bought the Long Beach production facility for $16.1 million.
That deal gave Rocket Lab new manufacturing capabilities that fit right into their small satellite launch services.
Vast, which owns Launcher, picked up Virgin Orbit’s test site in Mojave for $2.7 million. They needed that infrastructure for their own space technology development.
Stratolaunch also joined the asset hunt. They grabbed assets that matched their air-launch approach, similar to what Virgin Orbit originally did.
No one seemed sure what would happen to Cosmic Girl, the modified Boeing 747-400. That aircraft stood out as one of Virgin Orbit’s most unique assets.
Virgin Orbit’s air-launch tech and manufacturing methods got new life through these deals. The Long Beach facility boasted advanced 3D printing technology for rocket manufacturing, which Rocket Lab quickly put to use.
LauncherOne managed four successful orbital insertions out of six flights. That’s not perfect, but it showed air-launched small satellite systems can work.
Virgin Orbit’s Mojave test site gave new owners specialized infrastructure for engine testing and rocket integration. That should cut down development costs and time for similar projects.
The technology transfer kept Virgin Orbit’s innovations in liquid-fueled rocket design and mobile launch ops alive. Now, companies can operate from commercial runways instead of just traditional pads.
Richard Branson turned Virgin Orbit from a side project into a big part of his aerospace dreams. He wanted the company to bridge satellite deployment and his bigger space tourism plans.
Branson’s approach stands out from the crowd. He focuses more on customer needs and flexible launch solutions than just technical wizardry.
Virgin Orbit became a key piece in Branson’s space puzzle within the Virgin Group. The company split from Virgin Galactic in 2017 to focus on launching small satellites at a lower cost.
Branson poured about $700 million into Virgin Orbit by 2020. That’s a hefty bet on air-launched rockets as a business.
The LauncherOne system captured Branson’s belief in making space access cheaper. With the “Cosmic Girl” Boeing 747, Virgin Orbit could launch from almost any runway.
That flexibility gave them a real edge over traditional launch systems. Customers weren’t stuck with limited launch sites or bad weather.
Virgin Orbit’s air-launch setup solved a lot of headaches that ground-based rocket companies face. They could serve international customers from airports closer to home.
Virgin Orbit’s tech work directly supported Branson’s space tourism vision through Virgin Galactic. Both companies shared similar engineering ideas and operations.
Experience from Virgin Orbit’s air-launches helped Virgin Galactic with suborbital flight operations. Both needed precise aircraft-to-spacecraft separation and reliable ignition.
Richard Branson saw satellite launches as a step toward bigger space commercialization goals. Virgin Orbit’s wins made him believe that routine, affordable space access could happen.
The company worked with NASA and universities, building credibility in the aerospace community. That reputation helped Virgin Galactic with regulators and customers.
Revenue from satellite launches supported further development of Virgin Galactic’s space tourism plans. The two companies really did work hand-in-hand under Branson’s umbrella.
Branson’s take on aerospace sets him apart from folks like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. He’s got a reputation for putting the customer first, not just chasing technical milestones.
Virgin Orbit proved that alternative launch methods can compete with the big rocket companies. Air-launch worked for small satellite missions.
The company caught the attention of the industry, landing contracts with NASA’s CubeSat Initiative. Clearly, there’s a market for flexible launch services.
Branson keeps talking about making space more accessible, not just for satellites but for people too. He’s passionate about democratizing space.
He’s also shown some grit—after Virgin Orbit’s first launch failure, he didn’t dwell on it. He just focused on the next shot, which says a lot about his attitude toward space.
Virgin Orbit ran as a small satellite launch company with a unique air-launch system until it filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Here are some common questions about its rocket capabilities, how it operated, and its place in the commercial space scene.
LauncherOne could deliver up to 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) to low Earth orbit. That made it a solid choice for small satellite deployments.
The rocket was tailored for the fast-growing smallsat market. Companies needed cheaper ways to get lightweight satellites up for communications and Earth observation.
Virgin Orbit’s air-launch system gave it some clear advantages over ground launches. The Boeing 747 carrier could take off from almost any commercial runway.
That flexibility meant no need for dedicated launch facilities. Traditional rockets rely on specific pads and complicated ground infrastructure.
With air-launch, weather delays were less of a headache. Cosmic Girl could fly around storms to find the best launch conditions.
Virgin Orbit aimed for rapid-response satellite deployment for commercial and government clients. They wanted to launch satellites anywhere in the world within weeks of booking.
Their business model zeroed in on the small satellite market. This included communications, Earth monitoring, and national security payloads.
They wanted to make space access more flexible and affordable. Traditional providers often need years of planning and charge much more.
LauncherOne wasn’t built for interplanetary missions. Its capabilities stopped at low Earth orbit.
The rocket’s payload and fuel just weren’t enough for deep space. Interplanetary travel needs much bigger rockets with a lot more power.
LauncherOne stayed focused on small satellite launches for Earth orbit. Missions to the Moon or Mars require totally different vehicles.
Virgin Orbit ran extensive testing for both its rockets and carrier aircraft. They carried out several flight tests before putting customer payloads onboard.
Cosmic Girl got regular maintenance, following commercial aviation standards. The Boeing 747 platform brought decades of proven reliability.
During launch, ground teams monitored all systems remotely and could run multiple safety checks and abort procedures.
Virgin Orbit really shook things up by pushing rapid response launches for small satellites. With this approach, customers could get their satellites into space way faster than the old-school methods ever allowed.
The company’s air-launch system gave satellite operators a lot more flexibility. If an emergency popped up, they could get a replacement satellite into orbit in just weeks—not months.
Virgin Orbit managed to pull off four successful orbital missions while it operated. Those launches got dozens of small satellites into space for both commercial and research projects.
