Draft EA for Issuing a Launch Operator License to Virgin Orbit for LauncherOne Operations from Andersen AFB 1-1 October 2020 1 Chapter 1. 2 Purpose and Need 3 1.1 Introduction 4 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently evaluating a proposal by Virgin Orbit, LLC (VO) to. Virgin Orbit is just months away from the first launch of its LauncherOne rocket. The company is currently undergoing an extensive test campaign to ensure that the vehicle will function correctly.
Small satellites are ushering in a new era of space capabilities — connecting us across vast distances, stimulating the global economy, and expanding the limits of human knowledge. This rapidly growing industry requires a launch service that is as agile and affordable as the satellites themselves. But until now, there hasn’t been one.
Enter Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system: a rocket that combines proven technology with state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to propel human curiosity to new heights.
For too long, launchers have treated small satellite customers like second-class citizens. With Virgin Orbit, you’ll get first-class service at a fair cost so you can take full control of your satellite’s journey to space.
The beauty of our mobile launch pad is that we can fly wherever you need, whenever you need to go. Even hitting 20 flights per year isn't enough for us — we'll be pushing to do even more.
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Luxurious customer service. Disruptive affordability. Honest transparency. Everything you love about the Virgin brand — now in orbit!
No need to worry about traffic jams at crowded spaceports. With us, you can skip the line and get to your orbit on your own schedule. Don’t go out of business waiting for your ride to space.
Launch With UsOur mobile air launch system can easily reach any orbital inclination, giving you the ultimate flexibility when it comes to optimizing your mission. We’ll drop your satellite off exactly where it belongs, saving you time, money and fuel.
Launch With UsThanks to an experienced team with a long combined history of aerospace production, we’ve moved quickly from paper sketches to robust, proven hardware. Next-gen innovations such as hybrid additive-subtractive manufacturing enable us to manufacture dozens of rockets per year from our facility in Long Beach, CA.
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Our Customers Are ReadyTo Change The World
Our customers truly understand the power of using space as a force for good. With dozens of flights already sold, we’ve seen interest from government agencies and established space players, as well as Silicon Valley start-ups and university spin-offs. Whether they’re monitoring climate change or bringing the internet to underserved communities, each of our customers is taking on missions that are both socially and economically meaningful. Together, we’re leveraging space to benefit every Earthling.
The Propulsion team designs, develops and tests the Newton family of engines that lift LauncherOne into orbit.
The Production team lives on the cutting edge, utilizing the most advanced industrial manufacturing techniques to maximize rocket output. On our shop floor, we actively experiment with new kinds of materials, robotic automation, 3D printing, and more.
The Government Affairs team works with Congress, federal agencies and state legislatures across the U.S. to shape policies and budgets that will enable the small satellite revolution and open access to space for good.
The Launch team tests and operates both the LauncherOne rocket and our 747 carrier aircraft, Cosmic Girl. The Launch team works closely with every other department — helping to design structures and avionics systems, as well as more efficient testing processes.
The Latest
On the strength of a busy few weeks since our last update, our team is about to initiate our pre-launch operations phase for the Launch Demo 2 mission. We’re excited to share a few updates with you.
When we last left off, our Launch Demo 2 rocket was in the midst of final integration on our shop floor, with the team working to incorporate the upgraded NewtonThree engine that will power LauncherOne’s main stage. As expected, we were able to take advantage of the lessons learned from the previous LauncherOne and finish all that work in short order. With LauncherOne buttoned up from nose to tail, we then hit the road again to transport the rocket up to Mojave Air and Space Port.
LauncherOne left our factory in Long Beach early Wednesday morning, and was fully mated to our carrier aircraft by around 10 A.M. the next day. Now, out at the end of a taxiway in Mojave, a familiar sight has begun to take shape. The trailers that serve as our transportable ground equipment have been set up on the tarmac. Just a few feet away, we’ve parked our carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl, with LauncherOne nestled safely underwing. What was a bare concrete pad just days ago is now a complete launch site.
Additionally, all 10 of the payloads that will fly onboard LauncherOne are now safely encapsulated in their dispensers, and will travel up to Mojave separately in our mobile payload cleanroom. Consistent with our normal operations flow, we will mate the payload fairing to the rocket just before our final launch rehearsal. As our launch date approaches, we’ll pull that payload trailer adjacent to Cosmic Girl and mate the fairing to the rocket while it is attached to the aircraft. This is all excellent practice for our team, as the process will be exactly the same for future missions from other planned launch sites like in the UK, Guam and Japan.
Before that final mate happens, we’re planning yet another round of checkouts for our flight hardware, including full-up wet dress rehearsals.
As we progress through cryogenic testing, we will announce our specific launch window, which is currently projected to occur before the end of the year. Our team has done a best-in-industry job in digesting knowledge acquired from Launch Demo 1 to better inform our work for Launch Demo 2, implementing a series of hardware upgrades and performing a rigorous suite of major tests. We’ve done a hell of a lot these past few months as we worked to improve our probability for success, including modifications to our main engine assembly, the hot-fire and vibration testing of our engines, cryoload tests, full system check-outs, aircraft inspection, flight software qualification, and more. And what’s remarkable is we’ve done all this in the context of a global pandemic.
Still, our progress has been steady and our focus unwavering. It is satisfying work, and our team is happiest when we are making progress towards our goal of fielding the world’s most flexible and mobile launch system.
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As always, we’ll keep you all updated as work continues. With only weeks left on the countdown clock to Launch Demo 2, we hope you all are as excited as we are to see LauncherOne fly again.
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