Air-Launched Satellite Delivery Set to Send DoD Equipment into LEO

Virgin Orbit, a separate enterprise from the well-known tourism company Virgin Galactic, completed the final dress rehearsal for their 3rd upcoming paid launch.

The window should open starting on January 12, 2022, and in modern spacefaring fashion be livestreamed throughout the event. The payload will consist of satellites from the US Department of Defense Space Test Program, Poland's SatRevolution, and Spire Global. The spacecraft are all loaded for bear and ready for placement in the mothership's payload adapter, set for delivery to the Mojave Air and Space Port. 

Virgin Orbit has taken another track from other satellite delivery services, preferring to air launch from a modified Boeing 747-400 named Cosmic Girl. The test run saw the system run through its paces to ensure the health of each facet of the process before sending the next batch for real.

“The successful completion of this final major test has us heading into the holiday season with excellent momentum and high confidence for our Above the Clouds launch,” said Chief Operating Officer Tony Gingiss. “It’s been an incredible year, delivering 19 satellites to orbit and ramping up our factory for 2022 – our team has earned a joyous and restful holiday with their families.”

FMI: www.virginorbit.com