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Launch Vehicle

LauncherOne

United States Private Company

An air-launched small-satellite rocket developed by Virgin Orbit, dropped from a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft named Cosmic Girl before igniting to reach orbit. The company achieved several successful orbital launches, including the UK's first orbital launch attempt from Spaceport Cornwall, before filing for bankruptcy in 2023.

Facts
Vehicle Class
Air-launched light-lift expendable launch vehicle 1
Manufacturer
Virgin Orbit 1
First Flight Date
2021-01-17 1
Date of its first successful orbital flight; an earlier May 2020 attempt failed shortly after release.
Status
Retired; Virgin Orbit ceased operations and liquidated its assets in 2023. 1
Status
Status (category)
Retired 1
Connections

Operated By

LauncherOne was Virgin Orbit's air-launched small-satellite rocket, dropped from the carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl.

Source Encyclopedia Astronautica
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Sources
1. Encyclopedia Astronautica
Operated By: Virgin Orbit, Encyclopedia Astronautica: LauncherOne entry
LauncherOne (Wikipedia)
In Group: Commercial American Launch Vehicles, Lead sentence
Quote, In Group: Commercial American Launch Vehicles, Lead sentence
LauncherOne was a two-stage orbital launch vehicle developed and flown by Virgin Orbit that had operational flights from 2021 to 2023, after being in development from 2007 to 2020.
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