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Reuters

Science

Eric M. Johnson

Branson's Virgin Orbit moves closer to commercial satellite launch

Virgin Orbit's chief engineer Kevin Sagis kisses the tip of a test rocket underneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner prior to its takeoff and drop test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites from Mojave, California, U.S. July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit on Wednesday released a rocket from the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner in mid-air in a key test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites, the company said.

In the penultimate mission before Virgin Orbit offers commercial satellite launch services, the 70-foot (21.34 m) LauncherOne rocket cleanly separated from the jetliner at roughly 35,000 feet, the company said.

Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit, with a rocket underneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner, takes off to for a key drop test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites from Mojave, California, U.S. July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The rocket, loaded with water and antifreeze to simulate the weight of fuel, crashed as planned into the Mojave Desert as the jetliner, nicknamed Cosmic Girl, continued on its flight path.

Dan Hart, chief executive officer of Virgin Orbit, told Reuters the test was a "capstone" event on the company's path to making orbital satellite placement "almost routine."

"This test puts us into a pre-launch posture," Hart said. Assembly of Virgin's first commercial rocket will finish this month, and the company plans to launch test satellites into orbit this summer, he said.

Virgin Orbit staff look over the launch device underneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner, after a key drop test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites from Mojave, California, U.S. July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Competition is fierce among Virgin Orbit, Firefly and U.S.-New Zealand company Rocket Lab, which are designing smaller or non-traditional systems to inject smaller satellites into orbit and meet growing demand.

Virgin Orbit has fallen slightly behind Rocket Lab, which has already completed six orbital launches, though Virgin Orbit says its rocket can haul about twice the weight.

Virgin Orbit's chief test pilot Kelly Litmer is lifted by friends before piloting a successful test flight and drop of a rocket underneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner, during a key drop test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites from Mojave, California, U.S. July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

BUYING STRATOLAUNCH?

Hart said acquisitions or mergers could play a role in Virgin Orbit's growth strategy and did not rule out buying assets of Stratolaunch.

Stratolaunch designed a larger aircraft-and-rocket combo system, but Reuters reported the company is shutting operations while looking to sell its assets including the world's largest airplane by wingspan.

Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit, with a rocket underneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner, prior to its takeoff on a key drop test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites from Mojave, California, U.S. July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

"We've had discussions in the past, but there's not a lot of activity there at the moment," the Virgin Orbit executive said.

Virgin Orbit's subsidiary VOX Space LLC is selling launches using the same mid-air launch system to the U.S. military, with a first mission slated for early next year.

'LAUNCH AT ANYTIME'

Virgin Orbit said last month it plans to bring its satellite launch system to Japan in partnership with airline operator ANA Holdings Inc, which will provide maintenance and possibly aircraft.

That launch location will join other sites including the United States, Guam and United Kingdom, which Virgin Orbit says will provide satellite makers and governments more flexibility.

A rocket scribbled with notes from Virgin Orbit staff sits underneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner prior to takeoff of a key drop test of its high-altitude launch system for satellites from Mojave, California, U.S. July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

High-altitude launches, Hart said, allow satellites to be placed in their intended orbit more efficiently and minimize weather-related cancellations.

"The responsiveness of an air-launch platform is unparalleled," he said. "We can launch at any time, to any orbit (Earth or Moon) and from anywhere in the world."

Hart said there are many other benefits of launching rockets from a traditional airplane. Virgin Orbit's Cosmic Girl takes off from a runway, so there is no launch pad maintenance and the company is not competing for time slots to schedule missions.