Virgin Orbit is an air-launched rocket of the company on January 13, local time.Successful launch of “Launcher One”Did.This launch is「Above the Clouds」Called a mission,Launch of 7 satellitesAnd orbit insertion was done.
LauncherOne will include four satellites adopted by the US Department of Defense’s Space Test Program (STP), one satellite from Earth observation company Spire, and one satellite from Sat Revolution headquartered in Poland. It was successful. These satellites are primarily aimed at demonstrating technology, with experiments on space-based communications, space debris detection, and guidance and propulsion in space.
[▲ Launcher One (Credit: Virgin Orbit) separated from the air-launch-to-air launcher “Cosmic Girl”]
LauncherOne is an air-launch-to-air launcher that is a modified Boeing 747-400.“Cosmic Girl”Take off from Mojave Airport, California at 13:39 January 13, 2022, US Pacific Standard Time. LauncherOne, which ignited the engine and started climbing immediately after being separated from the Cosmic Girl in the Pacific Ocean,An orbit with an altitude of 500 km and an inclination of 45 degreesIntroduced a satellite to.
According to Virgin Orbit,This is the first time an artificial satellite has been launched into this orbit from the west coast of the United States.It has been with. According to the company’s announcement, launching from a launch pad fixed on the ground can handle orbits that require a lot of time and propellant to change the orbit, if it is an air-launch type LauncherOne. Mentions.
[▲ Launcher One (Credit: Virgin Oribit) that emits flames from the engine]
Virgin OrbitSuccessful launch of LauncherOne in January and June 2021AndThe number of satellites put into orbit is 26Go up to. According to SpaceNews, a space business magazine, Virgin Orbit includes this “Above the Clouds” mission.Plan 6 missions in 2022It is said to be doing.
According to Virgin Orbit, the mission’s name, “Above the Clouds,” was the fifth album on the 1998 album “Moments of Truth” released by the American hip-hop duo “Gang Star.” It was named after the song. The album is co-released by Virgin Group’s Virgin Record and Noo Trybe.
Image Credit: Virgin Orbit
Source: Virgin Orbit/Space News
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