LauncherOne

History

Virgin Galactic began work on the LauncherOne concept in 2007, and technical specifications were first described in detail in late 2009. The proposed configuration was an expendable, two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket air-launched from a White Knight Two carrier aircraft, similar to Orbital Sciences' Pegasus or a smaller StratoLaunch system. By 2012, several commercial customers had signed early contracts, including GeoOptics, Skybox Imaging, Spaceflight Services, and Planetary Resources.

In October 2012, Virgin announced LauncherOne would place 200 kg in Sun-synchronous orbit, marketed for under US$10 million per mission. The second stage was to be powered by NewtonOne (16 kN thrust) and the first stage by NewtonTwo (211 kN thrust); engines were built and tested by 2014, but neither would ultimately be used. In 2015, Virgin Galactic established a 14000 m2 center at Long Beach Airport. In June 2015, the company signed a contract with OneWeb Ltd. for 39 satellite launches with an option for 100 more; OneWeb canceled all but four in 2018, prompting a lawsuit from Virgin Orbit, and OneWeb filed for bankruptcy in 2020.

Design

LauncherOne is a two-stage rocket launched from an aircraft, burning RP-1 and liquid oxygen in its Newton engines. The first stage measured 1.6 meters in diameter, while the second stage and payload fairing were 1.3 meters. The second stage originally used the NewtonOne engine, which produced 211 kilonewtons of thrust and was tested for a full five-minute burn. The first stage was initially planned to use the NewtonTwo engine, delivering 211.5 kilonewtons, and both engines were built as first articles.

Later, the first stage switched to the NewtonThree engine, which generated between 260 and 335 kilonewtons and underwent hot-fire tests. In September 2015, reports said longer fuel tanks and the NewtonThree engine would increase payload, but White Knight Two could no longer lift the rocket, so a Boeing 747 became the carrier. The redesigned LauncherOne used both Newton 3 and Newton 4 engines. By December 2015, Virgin confirmed the switch to a Boeing 747 and a larger rocket design, with modifications finishing in 2016 and orbital test launches planned for 2017.

Launch sites

Virgin Orbit prepared its rockets for flight at its Long Beach, California facility. The LauncherOne rocket was carried aloft by a modified Boeing 747-400 named Cosmic Girl, mounted on a pylon under the left wing.

It was released over the ocean at a spot chosen based on the target orbit, a method that sidesteps many weather-related ground launch delays. The carrier aircraft operated from California's Mojave Air and Space Port and Cornwall's Newquay Airport. Planned launch sites at Florida's Kennedy Space Center and Brazil's Alcântara Space Center were never used.

Did You Know?

• LauncherOne could send payloads into heliocentric orbit for flybys of Mars, Venus or asteroids.