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Virgin Orbit will attempt to drop and ignite a rocket in mid-air Sunday


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Virgin Orbit’s Launcher One will be released from a modified 747.


Virgin Orbit

Virgin Orbit’s first demonstration launch failed to reach orbit last May, but the company now says it’s ready to try again. It’s set a date to launch as soon as Sunday.

The subsidiary of British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin empire aims to ignite its LauncherOne rocket after it’s released, at altitude, from the belly of a modified 747 jet. From there, the rocket blasts its way farther up to space where it can deploy its payloads into orbit.

During its Demo One launch in May, LauncherOne only ignited for about 10 seconds, cutting out early and falling into the Pacific Ocean. An investigation later determined a fault in the engine’s internal plumbing was to blame.

For its Demo 2 attempt, the company feels confident enough to up the stakes. LauncherOne will carry customers’ satellites on board for the first time.

LauncherOne ignites shortly after being released.


Virgin Orbit

Nine small CubeSats make up the payload, including one from California Polytechnic University that can help predict space weather, and another from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette that’ll allow students to connect and interact with it via a smartphone app. The full manifest can be found here

Virgin Orbit says the launch window for its Demo 2 mission taking off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California will open on Sunday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. and last until 2 p.m. PT. Backup windows are available later in the month.

Follow CNET’s 2021 Space Calendar to stay up to date with all the latest space news this year. You can even add it to your own Google Calendar.  



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