Virgin Orbit to expand its fleet of 747s used with its LauncherOne rocket
Capitalism in space: Virgin Orbit has signed a deal with L3 Harris Technologies to buy two more 747s airplanes to airlift its LauncherOne rocket during launches.
L3Harris will modify one of the newly acquired aircrafts to serve as an additional airborne launch pad for Virgin Orbit’s small satellite launch service, with delivery expected in 2023. L3Harris will also overhaul the platform with a new cargo configuration, which is expected to allow Virgin Orbit to deliver its rockets and ground support equipment in the same aircraft that will launch from foreign spaceports.
The companies previously collaborated to produce Virgin Orbit’s flagship aircraft “Cosmic Girl,” the first customized 747-400 aircraft to carry and deploy payloads to Low Earth Orbit under Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne program.
This deal once completed will give Virgin Orbit a fleet of three 747s for launching its rocket. The deal also suggests the company now has enough launch business to justify this expansion.
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Capitalism in space: Virgin Orbit has signed a deal with L3 Harris Technologies to buy two more 747s airplanes to airlift its LauncherOne rocket during launches.
L3Harris will modify one of the newly acquired aircrafts to serve as an additional airborne launch pad for Virgin Orbit’s small satellite launch service, with delivery expected in 2023. L3Harris will also overhaul the platform with a new cargo configuration, which is expected to allow Virgin Orbit to deliver its rockets and ground support equipment in the same aircraft that will launch from foreign spaceports.
The companies previously collaborated to produce Virgin Orbit’s flagship aircraft “Cosmic Girl,” the first customized 747-400 aircraft to carry and deploy payloads to Low Earth Orbit under Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne program.
This deal once completed will give Virgin Orbit a fleet of three 747s for launching its rocket. The deal also suggests the company now has enough launch business to justify this expansion.
In order to remain completely independent and honest in my writing, I accept no sponsorships from big space companies or any political organizations. Nor do I depend on ads.
Instead, I rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal, or $3 to $50 through Patreon, or any amount through Zelle.
The best method to donate or subscribe is by using Zelle through your internet bank account, since it charges no fees to you or I. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). What you donate is what I get.
To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If these electronic payment methods don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
“newly acquired aircrafts”
Further proof of ignoramuses that exist in journalism – “aircraft” is both singular and plural.
Other hot buttons of mine – putting the name of something before the description, ie: “USS New Jersey battleship” the correct phrasing is “Battleship USS New Jersey”. Calling a locomotive a “train”. And you run said locomotive. You only “drive” it in Britain.
This is because of journalism “schools” which think that their graduates can write anything without knowing a single thing about the subject.
Col–
Excellent stuff!
R.E.M. –
“Driver 8”
https://youtu.be/GqhP-1huIx8
3:52
Col Beausabre
Going into Battle……..
🥂 🥂 🥂 Cheers
I’ll be fascinated to see the longevity of this company. I can only see them living off DoD contracts that need responsive, distributed launch. There are already much cheaper rideshare options available from SpaceX, and the new orbital tug companies popping up will greatly lessen the appeal of Virginal Orbit’s azimuth flexibility for commercial customers and their somewhat shallower pockets.
Concerned wrote: “I’ll be fascinated to see the longevity of this company. I can only see them living off DoD contracts that need responsive, distributed launch.”
As with all industries, each company has its advantages and disadvantages. Virgin Orbit has advantages that may suit several customers and disadvantages that may discourage some payloads from those same customers. We should not expect one company to attract all customers. It is one of the advantages to having competition. Even the price advantage from SpaceX’s rideshare option does not overcome the needs of certain payloads that the rideshare does not provide.
Virgin Orbit has advantages that may keep it in business for many years.
We should not expect one company to attract all customers.
I once worked at a company where we had a live TV speech from our new CEO. “We only want our fair share of the market. All of it” I could then see why the Board hired him. And yes, our market share did go up on his watch