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Virgin Orbit

Virgin Orbit was a U.S.-based company founded in 2017 as a subsidiary of the British , specializing in dedicated launch services for small satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms using an innovative air-launch system. The company developed the two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket, which was deployed mid-air from Cosmic Girl, a modified aircraft, enabling flexible and responsive access to orbit from various global locations. Spun out from , Virgin Orbit aimed to disrupt the market by offering frequent, low-cost launches without the need for traditional ground-based infrastructure, targeting commercial, government, and scientific payloads. Headquartered in , the company went public in December 2021 via a SPAC merger, raising capital to scale operations amid growing demand for smallsat deployments. Its emphasized customer-centric scheduling, with launches possible from sites like the in and international spaceports such as Cornwall in the UK. Virgin Orbit achieved its first successful orbital launch on January 17, 2021 (Launch Demo 2), deploying 10 CubeSats for from under the wing of Cosmic Girl. Over the next 18 months, it conducted three additional successful missions, including Tubular Bells, Part One in June 2021 and Straight Up in July 2022, delivering 33 satellites to orbit while attempting to establish itself as a reliable provider in the competitive small-launch sector. A notable milestone was planned for its mission in March 2023, intended as the first satellite launch from the , but a technical failure during the flight marked a critical setback. Despite early promise, Virgin Orbit faced mounting financial challenges, including high operational costs and delays in securing contracts, leading to a Chapter 11 filing in 2023. The company ceased all operations by May 2023, laying off nearly its entire workforce of around 675 employees. In May 2023, key assets were acquired by , Stratolaunch, and other firms through a , marking the end of the company. At the time of its closure, Virgin Orbit had demonstrated the viability of air-launch for small payloads but struggled to achieve profitability in a rapidly evolving space industry dominated by competitors like and .

Founding and Development

Establishment and Early Years

Virgin Orbit was established in March 2017 as a from , founded by to develop and commercialize dedicated launch services for small satellites using an air-launched rocket system. The new entity separated the program from Virgin Galactic's suborbital tourism efforts, allowing focused investment in orbital small-payload capabilities to meet growing demand in the satellite industry. As part of the Virgin Group's expanding space portfolio, the company received initial backing from the conglomerate, positioning it for rapid development in the competitive small-launch market. The initial leadership was assembled with experienced professionals, including the appointment of Dan Hart as president in March 2017 and CEO in June 2017, drawing on his 34 years at in systems and launch operations. This core , supported by engineers from Virgin Galactic's , focused on integrating the air-launch platform to serve payloads in the 100-500 kg class. The air-launch approach was selected for its potential to lower costs by reducing needs and enabling launches from flexible locations, thus offering dedicated missions without the delays and shared rides typical of ground-based systems. In late 2017 and 2018, Virgin Orbit conducted initial ground tests, including taxi runs of the modified carrier aircraft and early component validations, while securing key development contracts to validate the system's viability. A significant milestone was the November 2017 launch contract with the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, marking the company's first government partnership for a dedicated small-satellite mission. These early efforts laid the groundwork for subsequent campaigns.

Technological Innovations and Milestones

Virgin Orbit pioneered an air-launch system designed to deploy small satellites into orbit by integrating its beneath the wing of a modified carrier aircraft, known as Cosmic Girl, enabling a mid-air release at approximately 35,000 feet followed by rocket ignition to minimize atmospheric drag and enhance payload efficiency. The integration process, which involved structural reinforcements to the aircraft's and wing to support the rocket's weight and aerodynamic stresses, was completed in October 2018, marking a key step in adapting commercial aviation hardware for space access. This approach drew from earlier air-launch concepts but innovated by using a liquid-fueled orbital , contrasting with prior suborbital systems. Key milestones in the system's development began with the first captive carry flight on November 18, 2018, during which Cosmic Girl successfully flew for 80 minutes with a full-scale mockup attached, validating aircraft-rocket mating, telemetry, and flight stability without release or ignition. This was followed by a successful inert air-drop test on July 10, 2019, where the carrier aircraft released the mockup over the , confirming clean separation and free-fall dynamics essential for safe ignition sequencing. The program advanced to powered flights with the inaugural orbital launch attempt, Launch Demo 1, on May 25, 2020, from ; the rocket ignited post-drop but experienced a first-stage anomaly, preventing achievement despite reaching . Subsequent testing culminated in Launch Demo 2 on January 17, 2021, the first successful orbital insertion using the air-launch method, where deployed 10 NASA CubeSats after a precise mid-air drop and two-stage burn, demonstrating the system's reliability for dedicated missions. Innovations within included its two-stage design powered by / liquid propulsion via in-house engines—a 73,500 lbf first-stage NewtonThree and a 5,000 lbf second-stage NewtonFour—enabling efficient ascent with cryogenic propellants while supporting up to 500 kg to . The rocket also featured a push-back satellite dispenser for sequential multi-payload deployment, allowing precise orbit insertion of several from a single mission without complex maneuvering. Technological partnerships bolstered these advancements, notably with (formerly L-3 Communications) for Cosmic Girl's modifications, including pylon installation and fuel systems to handle rocket integration, completed in phases starting in 2016. These efforts, grounded in rigorous ground and , positioned Virgin Orbit's system as a flexible, responsive alternative to ground-based launches.

Launch System

LauncherOne Rocket

LauncherOne was a two-stage orbital launch vehicle, with an optional for extended missions such as interplanetary trajectories, developed by Virgin Orbit as its primary delivery system. The rocket featured an all-composite structure for lightweight construction, measuring approximately 21 meters in length overall. Its first stage had a of 1.8 meters, tapering to 1.5 meters for the second stage and . At launch, the vehicle had a typical of about 26,000 kilograms, including propellants and . The propulsion system employed bipropellant Newton engines fueled by (LOX) and (RP-1). The first stage was powered by a single NewtonThree engine, delivering 327 kN (73,500 lbf) of vacuum with a sea-level optimized for atmospheric operation following . The second stage used a single restartable NewtonFour engine producing 22 kN (5,000 lbf) of vacuum , enabling precise orbit insertion and multiple burns if required. was capable of delivering up to 500 kg to or 300 kg to a 500 km , depending on mission parameters. The adopted a with a 1.5-meter , providing an internal of about 1.36 meters in usable cylindrical and supporting integration of single or multiple small satellites, including ESPA-class or ring configurations. Rockets were manufactured at Virgin Orbit's facility in , which spanned approximately 16,700 square meters (180,000 square feet) and emphasized high-rate production capabilities for up to 20-30 vehicles per year. Designed for air launch from the modified aircraft Cosmic Girl, integrated seamlessly into this platform for flexible, responsive deployment. Following Virgin Orbit's bankruptcy in April 2023, production of ceased, and the existing rockets were not sold at auction. The manufacturing facility and certain intellectual property were acquired by , though the program was not revived.

Cosmic Girl Air Launch Platform

Cosmic Girl was a modified aircraft originally operated by as a passenger airliner under the registration G-VWOW before being acquired by Virgin Orbit and re-registered as N744VG. The aircraft, nicknamed Cosmic Girl, was selected for its robust suitable for into an air-launch , with modifications beginning in 2016 at facilities operated by in , . Key adaptations included stripping approximately 70,000 pounds (31,750 kg) of unnecessary interior components to reduce weight and create open space for operations, as well as installing a custom pylon and release mechanism under the port wing to accommodate the rocket. Structural reinforcements were implemented to support the rocket's weight of up to 57,000 pounds (25,800 kg), ensuring stability during carriage and release. The release system featured hooks that disengaged the rocket, allowing a controlled drop, while upgrades enabled precise positioning for deployment. Operationally, Cosmic Girl achieved a launch altitude of approximately 35,000 feet (10.7 km) at speeds around 0.8, providing an initial velocity boost to the rocket and enabling launches from diverse global locations without reliance on dedicated runways. This air-launch approach enhanced flexibility, with the aircraft's range supporting missions from sites like the or international spaceports. Testing of Cosmic Girl commenced after receiving an experimental airworthiness certificate from the in 2017, with initial ferry flights following modifications. The first flights with the installed occurred in 2018, validating the structural integration. A significant milestone was the captive-carry test in November 2018, where the full was secured under the wing during flight. In July 2019, Virgin Orbit conducted a successful over the using a dummy to simulate release dynamics, confirming the platform's readiness for operational launches. In May 2023, following Virgin Orbit's , Cosmic Girl was sold to Stratolaunch for $17 million and renamed . It was subsequently modified to serve as a launch platform for Stratolaunch's Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle.

Operations and Launches

Launch Campaigns and Sites

Virgin Orbit's primary launch operations in the United States were centered at the in , where the company conducted assembly, testing, and multiple air launches using its Cosmic Girl carrier aircraft. This inland site served as the operational hub for early missions, leveraging its established infrastructure for horizontal launches. Additionally, the company planned to utilize the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on for missions requiring polar orbits, with preparations including aircraft positioning and ground support setup. The company pursued international expansion to diversify launch opportunities and access varied orbital inclinations. In the , Virgin Orbit planned operations from Spaceport Cornwall at , targeting the first horizontal orbital launch from . For , it established a , Virgin Orbit Brasil Ltda., in June to enable launches from the Alcântara Launch Center, focusing on equatorial orbits. In , a with Wagner aimed to certify as a for air-launched missions, potentially starting in 2024. These initiatives involved seeking regulatory approvals between 2021 and to support global responsiveness. Launch campaigns followed a streamlined, mobile process to minimize infrastructure needs and enable rapid deployment. Payload integration occurred at the customer's facility or Virgin Orbit's Mojave site, where satellites were encapsulated into the LauncherOne fairing and mated to the rocket's second stage using specialized dispensers and interfaces, often completed in weeks to accommodate schedules. The fully assembled rocket was then attached to Cosmic Girl's underwing , followed by ferry flights of the carrier aircraft to the selected launch site, such as Mojave or , to position for the drop. Operations emphasized weather windows of several days, monitoring conditions for safe air-launch release at around 35,000 feet, with mobile —including trailers and mission control units—deployed on-site by teams providing round-the-clock monitoring. Regulatory milestones underpinned these efforts, ensuring compliance for safe operations. The U.S. issued Virgin Orbit its initial launch operator license in June 2018 for missions from Mojave, with subsequent approvals for up to 25 launches over five years from various U.S. sites. In the , the granted the company's first launch license in December 2022, marking the nation's inaugural such authorization and clearing the path for the planned debut.

Mission History and Outcomes

Virgin Orbit's mission history began with a demonstration flight on May 25, 2020, when the rocket was air-launched from the Cosmic Girl aircraft over the near Point Mugu, . The mission, known as "Launch Demo 1," carried no operational payloads but aimed to test the vehicle's flight profile. Shortly after release, a faulty feed line in the first stage engine caused an anomaly, leading to the rocket reaching suborbital before the flight was terminated. The company's first successful orbital launch occurred on January 17, 2021, with the "Above the Clouds" mission, deploying 10 CubeSats as part of NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program. These satellites included educational and research payloads from universities and institutions, marking the first orbital success for an air-launched liquid-fueled rocket. The mission achieved a 500 km , demonstrating the reliability of the two-stage system. Building on this achievement, Virgin Orbit conducted its second successful launch on June 30, 2021, named ", Part One." The rocket deployed seven satellites into a 500 km at 60 degrees inclination, including four for the U.S. Department of Defense's and others such as NASA's TechEdSat-15, which featured an demonstration for future propulsion. This commercial mission highlighted the system's flexibility for government and international customers. The third success came on , , with another "Above the Clouds" under the U.S. Force's STP-S27VPB program. LauncherOne deployed seven small satellites, comprising CubeSats for defense, research, and commercial entities from the and , into a 500 km orbit at 45 degrees inclination. Notable payloads included navigation and communication demonstrators for the U.S. military. Virgin Orbit's fourth and final successful launch, "Straight Up," took place on July 2, , during its first night . The rocket successfully placed seven satellites into a 500 km orbit at 45 degrees inclination for the U.S. Force's STP-S28A program and NASA's VADR-2 initiative. These included small satellites for technology validation, such as radiation monitoring and tests, bringing the total number of satellites deployed by Virgin Orbit to 31 across its successful missions. The company's launch cadence was interrupted by its fifth mission attempt on , 2023, named "," which aimed to be the first orbital launch from the at Spaceport Cornwall. Carrying nine satellites for U.K., U.S., and international customers—including a Department of Defense and commercial imaging satellites—the experienced a fuel dislodgement in the first stage, causing a leak and preventing second-stage ignition. The mission failed to reach orbit, resulting in the loss of all . This failure, tied to a in the LauncherOne's first stage assembly, was the second overall for the vehicle. Following the January 2023 failure, Virgin Orbit suspended operations amid financial difficulties and did not conduct any additional launches before filing for bankruptcy in April 2023.

Subsidiaries and Projects

Virgin Orbit UK Limited

Virgin Orbit UK Limited was formed in 2019 as a wholly-owned of Virgin Orbit to oversee and European launch activities, with its headquarters located in . Incorporated on August 6, 2019, as Virgin Orbit UK Limited, the entity was established to facilitate air-launched orbital missions tailored to regional needs, leveraging the parent company's LauncherOne system while complying with local regulatory frameworks. (Note: VOX Space was a separate U.S.-based focused on national security launches for the U.S. Department of Defense and allies.) The subsidiary secured the United Kingdom's first orbital launch license in December 2022 from the , marking a pivotal step toward domestic capabilities. This approval enabled Virgin Orbit UK Limited to manage the mission from , the nation's inaugural attempt at an orbital launch on January 9, 2023, which ultimately failed to achieve orbit due to a technical anomaly in the upper stage. Through these efforts, Virgin Orbit UK Limited aimed to establish reliable access to for UK-based payloads, reducing dependence on foreign launch providers. Virgin Orbit UK Limited collaborated closely with the , receiving a £7.35 million grant in November 2019 to develop infrastructure for horizontal launches from and promote within the supply chain. Partnerships with local firms, including those in and broader aerospace clusters, focused on building domestic and operational expertise, contributing to job growth in the burgeoning sector. These initiatives supported by fostering high-skilled and in small satellite deployment. A core operational focus for Virgin Orbit UK Limited was enabling sovereign launch services for payloads, allowing greater autonomy for and allied missions amid stringent international regulations. By maintaining separation from the U.S.-based parent entity, the subsidiary navigated requirements, such as ITAR restrictions, to better serve non-U.S. customers and integrate with space objectives without compromising compliance. This structure positioned Virgin Orbit Limited as a bridge for regional ambitions, emphasizing responsive and dedicated access to . Following Virgin Orbit's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in April 2023 and subsequent asset sales in May 2023, Virgin Orbit UK Limited ceased operations, with no further developments as of November 2025.

International Launch Initiatives

Virgin Orbit pursued international expansion beyond its primary U.S. and operations to enhance global access for launches, leveraging the flexibility of its air-launch system from the modified carrier aircraft, Cosmic Girl. This approach allowed potential operations from various airports and sites without the need for dedicated fixed infrastructure, enabling responsiveness to customer needs in diverse regions. In contrast to the UK-centric focus of its Virgin Orbit UK Limited , these initiatives aimed at establishing footholds in the and to optimize launch trajectories and serve emerging markets. A key effort was in , where Virgin Orbit was selected by the Brazilian government in April 2021 as one of four commercial operators authorized to conduct launches from the , located near the equator to minimize fuel requirements for geostationary and polar orbits. This equatorial advantage promised up to 20% payload efficiency gains compared to higher-latitude sites. In June 2022, the company formalized its commitment by establishing a Brazilian subsidiary, Virgin Orbit do Brasil, and obtaining an operator's license from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) for missions from Alcântara. In , Virgin Orbit signed an agreement in 2022 with Wagner Corporation, an infrastructure firm, to assess and develop air-launch capabilities from in . This partnership targeted southern hemisphere access for customers, potentially enabling launches as early as 2024 and positioning as a hub for regional satellite deployments. Additionally, the company engaged in exploratory discussions in , partnering with Oita Prefecture in April 2020 to create Asia's first horizontal at Oita Airport, with plans for post-2022 missions in collaboration with Holdings. These international initiatives encountered significant challenges, including protracted regulatory approvals and escalating funding shortages amid the global industry's competitive pressures. By early 2023, Virgin Orbit's financial instability halted progress on all overseas site developments, contributing to the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in April 2023 and eventual asset . No launches occurred from these proposed international locations. Following the asset sales in May 2023, these subsidiaries and partnerships ceased, with no further activity as of November 2025.

Other Ventures

Ventilator Production Effort

In late March 2020, amid the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Orbit announced the development of a mass-producible bridge ventilator designed to support patients with moderate respiratory symptoms, freeing advanced units for critical cases. This initiative was part of a broader effort by Virgin Group companies to address global healthcare shortages, partnering with the Bridge Ventilator Consortium—a team of doctors, medical researchers, and engineers—to refine the design for rapid deployment. The company aimed to scale production to over 10,000 units per month by June 2020, leveraging its aerospace manufacturing infrastructure in Long Beach, California. Drawing on its rocket engineering expertise, Virgin Orbit adapted techniques from LauncherOne development for quick prototyping and assembly of the medical devices. Engineers created a simple, reliable system that automated manual resuscitators (Ambu bags) using off-the-shelf components, 3D-printed parts for custom elements, and automated assembly lines originally optimized for launch hardware. This approach enabled the team to assemble a functional in just three days and secure from the U.S. in April 2020. The design emphasized affordability and ease of production, with each unit costing approximately $2,000—significantly below the $25,000 to $50,000 price tag of conventional hospital ventilators. By June 2020, Virgin Orbit had delivered 600 bridge ventilators to California's state stockpile for response, with an additional 1,000 units produced for distribution in through partnerships with Virgin Unite and local manufacturers such as Invicta Holdings. While the project generated no direct revenue, it highlighted the transfer of technologies to humanitarian healthcare applications, bolstering Virgin Orbit's reputation for innovation and during a global crisis.

Conceptual Mars Mission

In October 2019, Virgin Orbit announced plans to develop and launch the first dedicated commercial mission to , targeting the 2022 Earth-Mars transfer window to capitalize on the air-launch capabilities of its rocket for reduced costs compared to ground-based systems. The technical concept involved adapting the vehicle by incorporating an additional third stage to serve as a vehicle, enabling the to escape and follow a to Mars insertion. This modification would accommodate a suite of small satellites, totaling around 50 kg, equipped with scientific instruments for tasks such as high-resolution imaging of the Martian surface and , atmospheric composition analysis, and detection of potential subsurface water reservoirs. The initiative was pursued through a led by Polish satellite manufacturer SatRevolution, in collaboration with several academic institutions including AGH University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, University of Technology, , Lodz University of Technology, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, and University of Environmental and Life Sciences. These partners focused on designing and building the CubeSat-class payloads, marking a novel effort to deploy low-cost, commercially developed probes for interplanetary science. The project remained at the conceptual stage, with preliminary design work underway but no flight hardware constructed or tested. Following Virgin Orbit's financial difficulties, the mission was ultimately canceled after the company's filing in April 2023 and subsequent cessation of operations in June 2023.

Financials and Closure

Funding and Business Challenges

Virgin Orbit received substantial initial funding from the , which invested over $1 billion in the company since its founding in , primarily to support development of the rocket and air-launch infrastructure. This backing enabled early operations but came amid a high-risk startup environment where rapid scaling was essential for viability. In December 2021, Virgin Orbit went public through a SPAC merger with , achieving an initial valuation of $3.2 billion and raising approximately $228 million in gross proceeds, far less than the projected $483 million due to high investor redemptions. The company sought additional bridge financing in 2022 and 2023, including smaller convertible notes from totaling around $55 million, but larger efforts faltered. Revenue streams centered on Department of Defense contracts, which comprised a significant portion of the company's $300 million backlog as of mid-2021, including a $35 million U.S. deal for multiple launches. opportunities included manifests from private operators, with launch services priced at a target of $12 million per mission to attract small-payload customers. Operational challenges intensified financial pressures, with a quarterly cash burn rate exceeding $50 million driven by development costs and infrastructure investments. Intense competition from established players like and , which offered lower costs and higher reliability for small satellite launches, limited Virgin Orbit's . Post-COVID supply chain disruptions further delayed production and increased expenses, as component shortages and workforce illnesses hampered progress. By early 2023, these issues culminated in the failure to secure a $200 million investment from private investor Matthew Brown, prompting widespread furloughs of approximately 675 employees in March to preserve cash amid ongoing operational halts.

Bankruptcy and Dissolution

On March 30, 2023, following the failure of its "" mission earlier that month, Virgin Orbit announced it would cease operations and lay off approximately 675 employees, representing 85% of its workforce. Operations had already been paused on March 16 amid efforts to secure funding. The company filed for protection on April 4, 2023, in the United States for the District of (Case No. 23-10405-KBO), listing assets of about $243 million and liabilities of approximately $154 million. As part of the proceedings, Virgin Orbit's assets were auctioned off on May 22, 2023, to facilitate an orderly wind-down. acquired the company's rocket technology, manufacturing facility, and related intellectual property for $16.1 million, while Stratolaunch purchased the carrier aircraft assets, including the modified known as Cosmic Girl, for $17 million as part of the broader $36 million in total sales to multiple buyers. Trading of Virgin Orbit's shares on was suspended on April 13, 2023, with the official delisting via Form 25 filed on May 2, 2023; the company formally ceased all operations by June 8, 2023, marking the end of its activities with no subsequent revival efforts reported as of 2025. In the aftermath, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged resident Matthew Brown in June 2024 with related to a fabricated $200 million offer to Virgin Orbit. In August 2025, a U.S. district court found Brown civilly liable on partial in the enforcement action; the and remaining assets were dispersed among the buyers, with no centralized revival of the original entity.

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