{"id":38215,"date":"2018-11-20T00:07:31","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T16:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/cosmic-girl-takes-launcherone-on-its-first-captive-carry-flight-test\/"},"modified":"2018-11-20T00:07:31","modified_gmt":"2018-11-19T16:07:31","slug":"cosmic-girl-takes-launcherone-on-its-first-captive-carry-flight-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/cosmic-girl-takes-launcherone-on-its-first-captive-carry-flight-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmic Girl takes LauncherOne on its first captive carry flight test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Virgin Orbit achieved another major milestone on Sunday, with LauncherOne taken on a captive carry test on Sunday. Carried under the wing of Cosmic Girl, a \u201cflying launch pad\u201d as described by the company, the duo enjoyed a successful first flight together, paving the way for the first launch that is set to take place in early 2019.\n<\/p>\n<p>Cosmic Girl, a&nbsp;Boeing 747-400 (747-41R) series aircraft under then-registration number G-VWOW,&nbsp;undertook its first flight on 29 September 2001 and was delivered to Virgin Atlantic Airways on 31 October 2001.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>New Virgin Orbit Forum<\/li>\n<li>L2 Future Vehicles<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Cosmic Girl \u2013 as she was named at the time of her delivery&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;spent 14 years in service with Virgin Atlantic Airways primarily servicing&nbsp;the company\u2019s London to San Francisco via New York City route until 29 October 2015.<\/p>\n<p>At this point, Cosmic Girl was withdrawn from service&nbsp;for Virgin Atlantic and&nbsp;flown from London Gatwick airport in the United Kingdom to San Antonio, Texas, in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The plane was officially delivered to Virgin Galactic on 12 November 2015 and re-registered as N744VG.<\/p>\n<p>At Virgin Galactic\u2019s San Antonio facility, the company completed a series of laser&nbsp;scans of the left side of the aircraft to acquire precise readings of&nbsp;the portion of the plane that will have to be modified to support the 24,947.58 kg (55,000 lb) LauncherOne rocket and its associated hardware. This was part of a process known as \u201cmaintenance D checks\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59081\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59081\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_49_33-index.php-2000%C3%971333.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1524\" height=\"862\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-59081\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cosmic Girl during Virgin Orbit modifications \u2013 by Nathan Moeller \u2013 for NSF\/Astro95Media<\/p>\n<p>Once complete, Cosmic Girl was flown to California to undergo tests at Long Beach and Mojave. However, Sunday was the first time she&nbsp;flew with LauncherOne under her wing.<\/p>\n<p>Rocket building kits<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Space tourism guides<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Spaceflight news subscription<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>LauncherOne is powered by a single NewtonThree engine which will burn for about three minutes. NewtonThree has been optimized to take advantage of launching beneath an aircraft.<\/p>\n<p>The second stage utilizes a single NewtonFour engine. During standard missions, NewtonFour will perform multiple burns \u2013 totalling nearly six minutes in duration.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56799\" class=\"size-full wp-image-56799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web-350x197.png 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web-622x350.png 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web-1920x1080.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/L1_Exploded.4k2_web-1170x658.png 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-56799\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A graphic of the LauncherOne rocket. Credit: Virgin Orbit<\/p>\n<p>The payload capacity for LauncherOne is 300 kilograms when executing missions to a sun-synchronous orbit. When going to equatorial orbits, the payload capacity increases to 500 kilograms, as the vehicle can take advantage of Earth\u2019s rotation. However, LEO missions will be the initial focus for LauncherOne.<\/p>\n<p>With missions beginning in 2019, the Captive Carry test was a major milestone to remaining on track.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1064300506913288193&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2018%2F11%2Fcosmic-girl-launcherone-first-captive-carry-test%2F&amp;sessionId=d0625dfcccaefb9188d85f3ebc5764a16286047f&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1064300506913288193\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1783498104314105897=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">CAPTIVE CARRY CONFIRMED!!! https:\/\/t.co\/fkGAgVyFbo<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Michael Baylor (@MichaelBaylor_) November 18, 2018<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On Sunday, Cosmic Girl and LauncherOne conducted a test flight from Victorville, California \u2013 a test facility close both to Virgin Orbit\u2019s Long Beach factory and to one of its operational launch sites, the Mojave Air and Space Port.<\/p>\n<p>The flight lasted 80 minutes in total, during which Virgin Orbit\u2019s flight crew assessed the take-off, landing, and low-speed handling and performance of the integrated system.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59084\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59084\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_54_29-Photos.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1362\" height=\"803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_54_29-Photos.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_54_29-Photos-350x206.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_54_29-Photos-594x350.jpg 594w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_54_29-Photos-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_54_29-Photos-1170x690.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1362px) 100vw, 1362px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-59084\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">LauncherOne takes the skies with Cosmic Girl \u2013 via Virgin Orbit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe vehicles flew like a dream today,\u201d said Virgin Orbit Chief Pilot Kelly Latimer (Lt. Col, US Air Force, Ret.). \u201cEveryone on the flight crew and all of our colleagues on the ground were extremely happy with the data we saw from the instruments on-board the aircraft, in the pylon, and on the rocket itself. From my perspective in the cockpit, the vehicles handled incredibly well, and perfectly matched what we\u2019ve trained for in the simulators.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This captive carry test kick starts Virgin Orbit\u2019s extensive test flight campaign, challenging the teams to conduct several more flights of its 747-400, some with a LauncherOne rocket attached and some without.<\/p>\n<p>Future tests will focus on further proving out the robustness of the company\u2019s modified 747, the carbon-fiber rocket itself, and the performance of the cutting-edge, lightweight avionics and flight computers onboard the rocket.<\/p>\n<p>This portion of the extensive testing regime will conclude with a drop test, during which a rocket will be released from Cosmic Girl \u2014 without igniting \u2014 generating critical data about Cosmic Girl\u2019s and the rocket\u2019s performance as it freefalls through the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59085\" class=\"size-full wp-image-59085\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_55_36-Photos.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1370\" height=\"776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_55_36-Photos.jpg 1370w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_55_36-Photos-350x198.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_55_36-Photos-618x350.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_55_36-Photos-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-11-19-11_55_36-Photos-1170x663.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1370px) 100vw, 1370px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-59085\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Captive Carry test \u2013 via Virgin Orbit<\/p>\n<p>For now, Virgin Orbit can celebrate one further milestone along the path to operational flights.<\/p>\n<p>CEO Dan Hart described as \u201ca picture-perfect flight, and a major step forward in our quest to bring a new capability to small satellite launch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m extremely proud of Kelly, the flight crew, and all of our hard-working engineering and operations teams. Their professionalism really shone through today, with our rocket and our plane up in the skies on a beautiful California day. There\u2019s still important work to do, but I know our team and our customers were all thrilled to see us taking this important step forward.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virgin Orbit achieved another major milestone on Sunday, with LauncherOne taken on a captive carry test on Sunday. Carried under the wing of Cosmic Girl, a \u201cflying launch pad\u201d as described by the company, the duo enjoyed a successful first flight together, paving the way for the first launch that is set to take place [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38216,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1550,1551],"class_list":["post-38215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-launcherone","tag-virgin-orbit"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38215"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}