Failure
Launch Demo
Test Flight
Virgin Orbit(VO)Commercial
LauncherOne
LEOorbit
Payload-free test flight of the LauncherOne vehicle.
Monday, May 25, 2020 at 7:50 PM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#5,957
VO Mission
#1
Pad Launch
#1
Location Launch
#45
Launch Window
NET
May 25, 2020, 7:50 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Lift Off
5:00 PM
Window Open
9:00 PM
Window Close
Air launch to orbit
Total Launches
51
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
35.0594, -118.1517
Status Details
Failure Reason
Shortly after release from the carrier plane and several seconds after first stage engine startup, the high-pressure LOX feeding line broke. This resulted in engine shutdown and subsequent flight termination.
LauncherOne Specs
LauncherOne is a two stage orbital launch vehicle developed by Virgin Orbit since 2007. It is an air launch to orbit rocket, designed to launch "smallsat" payloads of 300 kilograms (660 lb) into a Sun-synchronous orbit, following air launch from a carrier aircraft at high altitude.
Length
16 m
Diameter
1.6 m
Launch Mass
30 t
Thrust
327 kN
LEO Capacity
500 kg
SSO Capacity
300 kg
Launch Cost
$12M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2020
Fastest Turnaround
5mo 13d
Total Launches
6
Successful
4
Failed
2
Consecutive Success
0
Maiden flight: May 25, 2020
Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit is a company within the Virgin Group which plans to provide launch services for small satellites. The company was formed in 2017 to develop the air-launched LauncherOne rocket, launched from Cosmic Girl, which had previously been a project of Virgin Galactic. Based in Long Beach, California, Virgin Orbit has more than 300 employees led by president Dan Hart, a former vice president of government satellite systems at Boeing. Virgin Orbit focuses on small satellite launch, which is one of three capabilities being focused on by Virgin Galactic. These capabilities are: human spaceflight operations, small satellite launch, and advanced aerospace design, manufacturing, and test
Founded
2017
Administrator
President: Dan Hart
Total Launches
6
Successful
4
Failed
2
Pending
0
Consecutive Success
0