Government/Top Secret
Launch contracted by the U.S. Space Force for the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), with payloads provided by the DoD Space Test Program (STP) as part of the Space Force’s STP-28A mission. It will carry seven satellites from multiple government agencies that are experiments intended to demonstrate novel modular satellite bus, space domain awareness, and adaptive radio frequency technologies. The target orbit is approximately 500 km above the Earth’s surface at 45 degrees inclination.
Orbital Attempt
#6,259
VO Mission
#5
Pad Launch
#5
Location Launch
#50
Designator
2022-074
Jul 2, 2022, 6:53 AM
1 update
5:00 AM
Window Open
9:00 AM
Window Close
Launch success
SourceRelease, 1st stage ignition
SourceTake-off ~05:40 UTC -> Drop-off ~06:40 UTC
SourceSetting GO
SourceScrubbed due to propellant temperature issues
SourcePushing T-0 to account for takeoff and climb
SourceGO for launch
SourceAdding launch window
SourceAdding launch NET June 30 UTC
SourceTotal Launches
51
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
35.0594, -118.1517
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 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