Author Topic: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future  (Read 189616 times)

Offline Asteroza

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #280 on: 07/11/2018 03:59 am »
Quote
In the next few days, we’ll start the process of attaching our launch pylon (the “hooks” that secure the rocket to the plane) to #CosmicGirl. Soon after, we’ll conduct our first test flights w/ the pylon before moving on to a series of captive carry flights w/ #LauncherOne.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Virgin_Orbit/status/1014948024697536517

In case anyone was confused, you are looking at the launch pylon upside down, as that part needs to be symmetric to mate with the rocket. That part that mates with the aircraft probably isn't symmetric as it needs to fit the left wingbox body fairing area...

Offline gongora

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #281 on: 07/25/2018 01:41 am »
Virgin filed for an FCC permit to do some testing on their avionics (1316-EX-ST-2018):
Quote
Explanation of Experiment:
Virgin Orbit LLC (“Virgin Orbit”) is requesting “Special Temporary Authority (STA)” to operate an S-Band
Transmitter in 2200-2290 MHz band. The request is for the ability to sweep across the 2200-2290MHz
band. Virgin Orbit is designing a satellite launch vehicle (“Launcher One”) that will be air launched from a
modified 747 airplane (“Cosmic Girl”). The purpose of requesting an STA license is to analyze the effects
of Launcher One’s S-Band Telemetry transmitter on 747 radios.

Offline gongora

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #282 on: 07/25/2018 01:44 am »
and another for testing ground station (1318-EX-ST-2018):
Quote
Explanation of Experiment:
Virgin Orbit LLC (“Virgin Orbit”) is requesting “Special Temporary Authority (STA)” to operate an S-Band
Transmitter at 2262MHz. If 2262 MHz is unavailable Virgin Orbit is open to any frequency within 2200-
2290MHz band. The purpose of the experiment is to test the ability of Virgin Orbit’s Long Beach ground
station to track satellite launch vehicles. Long Beach ground station is receive only and is located at 4022
E Conant St., Long Beach, CA 90808. Virgin Orbit plans to use this ground station for tracking its satellite
launch vehicles. The plan is to fly a small manned aircraft with Quasonix transmitter and antennas around
Long Beach, CA and track that aircraft using the ground station in Long Beach, CA. The transmitter inside
the aircraft will transmit test data at the assigned frequency. Two different data rates will be tested at the
same assigned frequency. Two Antennas might be used in order to get better coverage, in such a case the
signal from the transmitter will be split between the antennas using a 3dB RF splitter.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #283 on: 08/01/2018 11:25 pm »
Quote
Ericson: we mated LauncherOne pylon to Virgin Orbit’s 747 last week; first captive carry test flight in the next week.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1024758739906248705

Offline Pomerantz

Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #284 on: 08/06/2018 08:29 pm »
For anyone who didn't see the follow-on tweets from Jeff...

Quote from: Jeff Foust on Twitter
Clarification: the upcoming flight is an “envelope expansion” flight of just the 747 and its new pylon, rather than a full-fledged captive carry flight with a LauncherOne vehicle attached.

(The snark on this next one wounds me, but in the interest of good and faithful transcription...)

Quote from: Jeff Foust on Twitter
But then, I can recall another Virgin Orbit executive saying at NewSpace 2018 in late June that the captive carry flight was taking place in “a little over a week”, so  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[And for clarity, I'll point out again that after that rather botched mis-comminucation, we clarified within hours that it was not indeed the plan...]

Quote from: Jeff Foust on Twitter
Also, that flight is apparently in the “next weeks” and not necessarily next week.


We're making great progress, but we're not flying and never planned to fly a captive carry flight this week.  8)

---------
I post here for fun, but in the interest of full disclosure, I work for Virgin Orbit. That said, I'm an honest fan of pretty much everything space.

Offline Tomness

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #285 on: 08/06/2018 08:36 pm »

We're making great progress, but we're not flying and never planned to fly a captive carry flight this week.  8)
Keep up the amazing work guys. LauncherOne & its family will be amazing vehicles. You guys have crawl before you walk. We are here for the ride.

Offline Pomerantz

Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #286 on: 08/29/2018 12:07 am »
Just for fun, here's a nice air-to-air photo of Cosmic Girl in flight we haven't shared anyone else. =)

We haven't said too much publicly about the pylon in part because, to be honest, in can sound kinda boring to those who haven't worked on it (to us, it's super fascinating, but then again, we are kinda weirdos!), but Guy Norris has a characteristically good write-up in AvWeek for those who want to delve a bit deeper.
---------
I post here for fun, but in the interest of full disclosure, I work for Virgin Orbit. That said, I'm an honest fan of pretty much everything space.

Offline TripleSeven

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #287 on: 08/29/2018 04:58 pm »
Just for fun, here's a nice air-to-air photo of Cosmic Girl in flight we haven't shared anyone else. =)

We haven't said too much publicly about the pylon in part because, to be honest, in can sound kinda boring to those who haven't worked on it (to us, it's super fascinating, but then again, we are kinda weirdos!), but Guy Norris has a characteristically good write-up in AvWeek for those who want to delve a bit deeper.

an impressive job on the pylon...very nice.  I use to be a test pilot for the folks who built the airplane :) nice work

Offline hartspace

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #288 on: 08/29/2018 06:42 pm »
The 747 flew over our house yesterday on the way back into Long Beach Airport and you could definitely see the pylon on the left wing.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a picture of it.

Offline CameronD

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #289 on: 09/05/2018 07:06 am »
I note that the Australian "Space Activities Amendment (Launches and Returns) Bill 2018" passed 2 weeks ago specifically includes "licensing arrangements for launches from aircraft in flight".

Could this potentially mean either VG or VO are considering operations over here??
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline Davidthefat

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #290 on: 09/12/2018 07:24 pm »
In the recent Instagram post, you can see the aft of the first stage. A stage with an unshrouded engine bay shows that it's a dual Turbopump GG cycle. Has that information been pointed out yet?


edit: what's peculiar is that the latest stage being worked on seems to have longer tanks, and the more complete stage next to that seems to have the engine clocked at a different angle than the incomplete one.


edit 2: Early testing video clearly shows the second turbopump and  turbine exhaust https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=TqOzNDYr83s

edit 3: Now that I see the bigger picture it just looks like perspective that makes it look longer.
« Last Edit: 09/14/2018 02:05 pm by Davidthefat »

Offline Kryten

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #291 on: 09/13/2018 10:22 am »
 From VO's twitter, here are the images mentioned in the post above.

Offline Bob Shaw

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #292 on: 09/13/2018 10:45 am »
Very Redstone!

Offline Zed_Noir

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #293 on: 09/13/2018 07:37 pm »
Too lazy to go through the entire thread. :P

Does anyone know if Launcher One might have a tailcone fairing enclosing the exhaust nozzle bell for aerodynamic drag reduction? Like the AGM-48 Skybolt and the AGM-69 SRAM missiles.

Offline Asteroza

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #294 on: 09/14/2018 12:55 am »
Very Redstone!

Must resist Doge meme...

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #295 on: 09/14/2018 09:26 am »
Does anyone know if Launcher One might have a tailcone fairing enclosing the exhaust nozzle bell for aerodynamic drag reduction? Like the AGM-48 Skybolt and the AGM-69 SRAM missiles.

There is no tailcone fairing.

« Last Edit: 09/14/2018 09:27 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline CameronD

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #296 on: 09/17/2018 12:09 am »
Does anyone know if Launcher One might have a tailcone fairing enclosing the exhaust nozzle bell for aerodynamic drag reduction? Like the AGM-48 Skybolt and the AGM-69 SRAM missiles.

There is no tailcone fairing.

..although those are simply artists impressions (the pic quoted being a particularly poor example of the use of photoshop) for PR purposes so we're unlikely to know for real until they commence test flights.
« Last Edit: 09/17/2018 12:10 am by CameronD »
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline Davidthefat

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #297 on: 09/22/2018 04:52 pm »
https://twitter.com/AMP_SoCal/status/1040681629746749440?s=09


The post shows Virgin's dual turbo pump arrangement and engine on the test stand. Also you see the throat section of their high expansion thrust chamber.

And you can make some inferences about their design too
« Last Edit: 09/22/2018 04:53 pm by Davidthefat »

Offline Gliderflyer

Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #298 on: 09/22/2018 06:21 pm »
https://twitter.com/AMP_SoCal/status/1040681629746749440?s=09


The post shows Virgin's dual turbo pump arrangement and engine on the test stand. Also you see the throat section of their high expansion thrust chamber.

And you can make some inferences about their design too

There are also higher resolution versions on their gallery page: https://virginorbit.com/gallery/
I tried it at home

Offline Gliderflyer

Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #299 on: 09/28/2018 10:49 pm »
A new highlight video was released:




There are some nice details hiding in the backgrounds, including the slow-motion Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man.
I tried it at home

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