American launch vehicle LauncherOne reaches target orbit for the first time

Richard Branson's American Virgin Orbit air launch vehicle LauncherOne reached its intended orbit for the first time. This is stated on the company's Twitter page.

During a test flight, a modified Boeing 747 with a LauncherOne rocket took off from an airfield in Mojave, California. Being over the Pacific Ocean, about 150 km from the city of Long Beach at an altitude of 10,2 thousand meters, the plane dropped a rocket, which, after separation, turned on the engines and began to enter orbit. As a load, the rocket delivered ten minisatellites into orbit.

We are proud to say that LauncherOne has completed its first space mission, bringing satellites into space for our NASA friends.

- said Virgin Orbit.

LauncherOne booster has been in development since 2008. In October 2015, the company announced successful firing tests of rocket engines, and on November 18, 2018, the first flight tests took place in California.

As stated in the company, Launcher One rocket is designed to launch small satellites and can put into orbit a load up to 500 kg. It is a one-time two-stage rocket that will be launched from under the wing of a modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The length is slightly more than 20 meters, the weight is approximately 25 tons. A feature of this rocket is the ability to launch at any time of the day without the use of space centers, but only if there is a runway for the aircraft carrier. The plane rises to an altitude of 10 km, after which it must bend over 25 degrees and release the rocket.

An aerial launch vehicle is of great interest to the Pentagon, which wants an alternative technology to quickly launch satellites into orbit.

Comments

[andreykolesov123]

This is all lies and animation. The Americans came up with everything and they were not on the moon.

[Dimka75]

And the Earth is also flat, which is confirmed by the view from the window.

[andreykolesov123]

Quote: Dimka75

And the Earth is also flat, which is confirmed by the view from the window.

And what is your evidence that this is not so? Did you yourself fly into space?

[Dimka75]

And what is your evidence that this is not so? Did you yourself fly into space?

I'm afraid to crash on the firmament

[andreykolesov123]

Quote: Dimka75

I'm afraid to crash on the firmament

right, so it turns out that Rogozin knowing the true picture of the world simply saves the lives of astronauts by stealing money.

[alekseykabanets]

Quote: andreykolesov123

This is all lies and animation. The Americans came up with everything and they were not on the moon.

Exactly, soon Rogozin will come up with a song about it. And you can also paint the East under Khokhloma, so that the Americans would be envious.

[Bradley]

Exactly, soon Rogozin will come up with a song about it.

Will write an article. He's a journalist, not a composer.)

[alekseykabanets]

Quote: Bradley

Will write an article. He's a journalist, not a composer.)

He is a jack of all trades, "and a reader, and a reaper, and a gamer on the pipe."

[andreykolesov123]

Quote: aleksejkabanets

Quote: andreykolesov123

This is all lies and animation. The Americans came up with everything and they were not on the moon.

Exactly, soon Rogozin will come up with a song about it. And you can also paint the East under Khokhloma, so that the Americans would be envious.

Shame on you to indulge in groveling before the West.

[alekseykabanets]

Quote: andreykolesov123

Shame on you to indulge in groveling before the West.

You have a good sense of humor, it's a pity not all members of the forum see it.

[andreykolesov123]

Quote: aleksejkabanets

You have a good sense of humor, it's a pity not all members of the forum see it.

[semenov]

Quote: andreykolesov123

This is all lies and animation. The Americans came up with everything and they were not on the moon

This is how you decided in advance to make fun of the skepticism of members of the forum? So no one doubts that such tests can bring results.

[andreykolesov123]

Quote: Semenov

Quote: andreykolesov123

This is all lies and animation. The Americans came up with everything and they were not on the moon

This is how you decided in advance to make fun of the skepticism of members of the forum? So no one doubts that such tests can bring results.

Together with all members of the forum, I express fierce skepticism and discontent. What right do Americans have to use the principles of jet propulsion discovered and patented in the days of Ivan the Terrible

[sleeve]

In essence, is this the third stage in a separate launch? Launch, as I understand it, down, and a real start after a "hole" from a height of about 7 km? Starting acceleration without engines in the region of 2 km / s at the first degree of "sunrise"?

[Cowbra]

... and without ground launch positions. And without hemorrhoids with contaminated soil and debris of steps ... They actually believed that for small satellites it would seem to be cheaper. A rare case when the topic is not stupid, therefore NASA does not deal with it, even in the face of a front office "Horns and hooves" Spice-He, which is not like NASA or the Pentagon. Kohl cheaper means less rollback.

[sleeve]

It seems to me ours are "puffing" over this. And not along the line of Rogozin. This is the most effective way to close the orbit after an anti-satellite battle. Moreover, from any jump base, which is easier to survive than the cosmodrome. Of course, you need to understand that not only RN. This is another satellite system. Lightweight, less durable, less efficient. And ... now absent in real life.

[Zhevlonenko]

And where do you think the disposable stage falls with the remaining fuel?

[Cowbra]

On the ground, in a more or less calculated square, people in Kazakhstan often fall on their heads. Well, or in the sea - also nothing good. Here the first stage lands on its own at the airfield

[Piramidon]

Quote: sleeve

Run as I understand it down

In the video, it seems that the launch is horizontal with a drop in height

[sleeve]

Hmm ... Then I don't know. It seems to me it will be hard without a slide Well, I'm not super special. If there is no preliminary acceleration, then the takeoff maneuver will be costly. Our counter-satellite "pushes" the moment 31. I'm afraid the B747 won't be able to do that. This means overclocking and a slide. So it seemed to me.

[Piramidon]

Quote: sleeve

Hmm ... Then I don't know. It seems to me it will be hard without a slide Well, I'm not super special. If there is no preliminary acceleration, then the takeoff maneuver will be costly. Our counter-satellite "pushes" the moment 31. I'm afraid the B747 won't be able to do that. This means overclocking and a slide. So it seemed to me.

Other air-launched missiles are somehow launched without "slides" and even at speeds comparable to the B-747. Well, what about the cost, then, all the same. there is a handicap in height (10 km) and speed (about 900 km / h). So the need for one step has disappeared.

[sleeve]

Well, maybe ...

[Flurry]

For symmetry, he can even take two such missiles. It is a very sensible idea - no spaceports, ground infrastructure, areas under the fall of steps, practically all-weather conditions are needed. All this drastically reduces the cost. And it's a pity that we have not implemented such a scheme. Options based on the MiG31 are not offered - these are narrow-price military systems, quite expensive.

[Blackmokona]

As a result, the only currently active Pegasus air launch rocket outputs half a ton to LEO, and is more expensive than Falcon-9, which outputs 22,8 tons
According to the news launched, it displays 0,3 tons for 12 million dollars, which is also not ice.

[donavi49]

Pegasus has long been a corpse. The last launch for NASA in 2019 was postponed for 2,5 years. Due to the unavailability of the last launch vehicle, which was already collected from what they will find. There will be no more Pegasus.

Branson made a generally good platform of 500 low and 300 high. For many loads, this is sufficient. And he collected orders, the same OneWeb before bankruptcy bought 39 LauncherOne at once. Now, after the restructuring of the launch windows, 4 launches have been confirmed and paid for. But here Branson is more to blame, who promised to shoot back in 19 with a test, and in 2020 to make 8 launches with a payload. And in the end, there was 1 and that test and that fail.

Well, in addition to OneWeb, they have quite a lot of interesting launches, for example, this year they will begin deploying the DSaaS constellation of Cloud Constellation satellites - cloud data storage will now fly in space at 5 petabytes each.

[Bradley]

Well, in addition to OneWeb, they have quite a lot of interesting launches, for example, this year they will begin deploying the DSaaS constellation of Cloud Constellation satellites - cloud data storage will now fly in space at 5 petabytes each.

Now I'm worried that my saved documents in the cloud will be read by aliens.

[sharp-lad]

Urgently bring to Earth with the transfer to very solid carriers, time-tested! (stone tablets)

[Zhevlonenko]

As if the mass of 25 tons hints that at least An 22 is needed no less. A moment will not master.

[steelmaker]

Having such missiles as Iskander and MiG-31, our military could have thought of this earlier! And not listen to the philologist or journalist Rogozin, fairy tales about a trampoline. And then we buy the usual weather reports from the EU! Shame !!!

[slipped]

Quote: steel maker

And then we buy the usual weather reports from the EU! Shame !!!

The Russian space constellation includes three Meteor high-orbit meteorological satellites and two hydrometeorological satellites on the Electro-L GSO. Another Meteor will be added this year.

[rocket757]

During a test flight, a modified Boeing 747 aircraft with a LauncherOne rocket took off ... at an altitude of 10,2 thousand meters, the aircraft dropped the rocket, which, after separation, turned on the engines and began to enter orbit. As a load, the rocket delivered ten minisatellites into orbit.

Light class rockets, different launch methods, this is already a reality that is approaching, approaching ...
oh, how I do not want to remember about "trampolines" and other "wise sayings" of specific irresponsible faces.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: rocket757

oh, how I do not want to remember about "trampolines" and other "wise sayings" of specific irresponsible faces.

Especially when this year Falcon 9 is launching satellites into space for the second time. Today the first stage should take off 8 times.

[rocket757]

Roscosmos will build a prism tower instead of a rocket-shaped headquarters

The prism tower may be completed, but the flight to the moon at the ...
These are the "news"

[donavi49]

Well, Beck also started from the very first days of the year. One of these days flies:

Fireflies also fly on their maiden flight at the end of January. And the Chinese Hyperbole.

Musk will make 2 more launches, or maybe even three. Well, the barrel jump is coming soon.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: donavi49

Well, the barrel jump is coming soon.

We are especially looking forward to it, the show can be interesting.
There, Blue origin flew into space and successfully landed the first stage with the capsule. SLS conducted fire tests.

[slipped]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

Especially when this year Falcon 9 is launching satellites into space for the second time. Today the first stage should take off 8 times.

Russia traditionally starts the space year in February. This is due to our January weekend. We have two federal and one commercial launches next month.

Deactivation of the Progress MS-16 transport cargo vehicle and the Soyuz MS-18 manned transport vehicle is being carried out in the assembly and testing building.

[askort154]

The "cameraman" did not wait for the rocket to leave the atmospheric layer into open space, as evidenced by the presence of a contrail behind it until the end of the survey. Did she go out into space?

[Flurry]

For an air launch, the second stages from the existing LV with minimal modifications are well suited - a control system, an adapter for exiting the cargo hatch, a starting solid-fuel booster for hot start of the engine. By the way, in the video presented, its work is clearly visible for the first few seconds.

[askort154]

Understood, there are "experts" here who do not know the conditions for the formation of a contrail from "exhaust gases". engine. These are the products of its "exhaust", crystallizing in the atmosphere and forming a contrail. The contrail depends on the temperature of the engine exhaust gases, the amount of unburned product emitted by it, humidity, temperature and pressure of the surrounding air mass. Naturally, these parameters are absent in open space. There are no conditions for this.
Therefore, the "trace" from the rocket is visible until it leaves the "dense layers of the atmosphere". Above the stratosphere. And it is located above the planet Earth, at different heights. The closer to the equator, the higher it is.
Hello to the silent minus players. If I do not agree, I will answer. Stupidly putting cons is child's play. (I don’t dabble in cons)
And the "stray minus drivers" can be seen with the naked eye. They are constantly on duty at VO. The Ukrainian theme has its own team. US-Israeli theme,
a more solid team. It is a pity for the Israelis - they are on duty around the clock, and the command "fas", are abbreviations: F-35, "Israel attacked the territory of Syria", "Israel eliminated ...". In short, the coolest state
after the US, this is Israel. These are the "poor fellows" in the desert.

[Boris55]

American launch vehicle LauncherOne reaches target orbit for the first time

This is the orbit it reached, and this is what it was set.

[KCA]

Representatives of our "Okna" could tell what and into what orbit it put it, but they will not do it 100%, why would anyone know the real capabilities of "Okna"

[Blackmokona]

What for? All the same, NORAD reports all orbits (except for the most secret US satellites). Even in Rosskosmos they look at NORAD data (the case when they were looking for Phobos Grunt and complained that NORAD did not immediately give out the exact coordinates), since ours are such super secret

[slipped]

Quote: BlackMokona

and complained that NORAD did not immediately give out the exact coordinates)

It was 10 years ago. Today, the Main Reconnaissance Center for the Space Situation perfectly tracks any devices at altitudes from two hundred to forty thousand kilometers.

[Blackmokona]

The guys from the USSR are talking about this, but in fact it is easier to go to the NORAD website and see where there is Phobos soil or another device. How to go through 100500 circles of trash waste and bureaucratic sadomy to get an answer from our

[slipped]

Quote: BlackMokona

The guys from the USSR are talking about this, but in fact it's easier to go to the NORAD website

SKKP does not have its own website on the network, that's all And the data from them can be obtained by interested departments, it is enough just to agree in advance.

[Blackmokona]

Only now they have no news that they have changed something since the days of Phobos Grunt.

[slipped]

Quote: BlackMokona

Only now they have no news that they have changed something since the days of Phobos Grunt.

Do you doubt that there is a single catalog in Russia, in which all space objects currently in orbit? Do not be silly.

[Blackmokona]

I doubt that you can get data from it without going through 13 circles of bureaucratic hell twice.

[slipped]

Quote: BlackMokona

I doubt that you can get data from it without going through 13 circles of bureaucratic hell twice.

Go to serve on a contract and get your data Joke. I wrote to you above - sign a contract and get it. And they do not have a site with free access to data.

[slipped]

Quote: Boris55

American launch vehicle LauncherOne reaches target orbit for the first time

This is the orbit it reached, and this is what it was set.

The second stage of the carrier is in orbit

PERIOD 94.714
APOAPSIS 517.660
PERIAPSIS 491.786

[Bersaglieri]

I immediately remembered the "Burlak" project

[slipped]

Quote: Bersaglieri

I immediately remembered the "Burlak" project

We have many completed projects of small missiles for the withdrawal of small spacecraft in the 90s and 1s. Basically conversion - Start-XNUMX, Volna, Calm, Rokot. But the MCA market, as it did not exist today. Hence, such projects as "Burlak" or "Air Launch" never reached implementation.

Now we are launching small spacecraft in clusters on the Soyuz-2 medium rocket. A big launch is planned for March with dozens of cubes and other small spacecraft.

[Bersaglieri]

unrealized, actually. , unfortunately, there were even more - all the "air starts", MAKS, Baikal, etc. :(

[slipped]

Quote: Bersaglieri

unrealized, actually. , unfortunately, there were even more - all the "air starts", MAKS, Baikal, etc. :(

The multipurpose aerospace system did indeed imply an air launch, but it was a specialized manned one, but Baikal is somewhat different, after all, it is a winged stage of the Angara LV, starting from the USK. An analogue of this system is now being created by FPI and EMZ them. Myasishchev in the form of an ultralight carrier, just for the launch of the MCA. They recently tested a prototype of a small turbojet engine returning.

[Bersaglieri]

"Burlak", "Ishim" ...

[slipped]

Quote: Bersaglieri

"Burlak", "Ishim" ...

I wrote - these are all air launch projects that were not implemented in hardware, since they did not find a customer - first of all, the customer meant Western companies. Therefore, now we are taking a different path - we are developing our microsatellite industry, which will allow even ordinary schoolchildren to create and launch satellites from ready-made machine kits. https: //rdsh.rf/competition/307 And we have already developed the means and mechanisms for the delivery of MCA.

[Maks1995]

That's right, it all comes down to money.
Boeing flight under 100-200 tysh bucks, and how much can the 3rd stage of a small rocket cost?