Author Topic: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future  (Read 189664 times)

Offline Craftyatom

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #300 on: 10/10/2018 03:37 am »
I got the opportunity to tour the factory yesterday, and it's even more impressive up close (of course, no pictures allowed).  They're in the later (but crucial!) stages of a very thorough testing regime, including the captive carry testing to come.  They're definitely running hardware-rich, and know how to use that to their advantage.  They also have a good idea of how they want to operate as the vehicle matures, with focuses on both launch cadence and flexibility.

The place definitely gives off a newspace vibe.  You couldn't mistake it for anything from the previous decade.  The layout is ergonomic, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the tooling is very nifty.

I'm looking forward to what they have to offer - should be some very exciting times!
All aboard the HSF hype train!  Choo Choo!

Offline refsmmat

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #301 on: 10/12/2018 01:30 pm »
Richard Branson has posted a blog entry on the Virgin Group website announcing withdrawing from participation in projects in Saudi Arabia, including negotiations for investment in Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit, in the aftermath of the disappearance of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Turkey.

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-statement-kingdom-saudi-arabia

Online meekGee

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #302 on: 10/12/2018 10:46 pm »
Richard Branson has posted a blog entry on the Virgin Group website announcing withdrawing from participation in projects in Saudi Arabia, including negotiations for investment in Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit, in the aftermath of the disappearance of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Turkey.

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-statement-kingdom-saudi-arabia
That whole announcement was so very nebulous, I don't think much was lost.  Everyone likes to bask in the glory of some airbrushed land develipment images and the feel of saying "One Billion dollars"

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Offline radiskull

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #303 on: 10/20/2018 11:43 pm »
Launcher One first stage was showing its stuff at the Huntington Beach airshow today.  Will probably repeat the performance on Sunday.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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« Last Edit: 10/24/2018 11:48 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #308 on: 10/25/2018 08:05 am »
That deserves to be posted here!
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #309 on: 10/26/2018 06:25 pm »
Richard Branson blog with brief mating video:

Quote
Veigin Orbit’s LauncherOne meets Cosmic Girl 747

LauncherOne? Meet Cosmic Girl. The brilliant Virgin Orbit team have integrated our LauncherOne rocket with Cosmic Girl, our modified 747, for the very first time

[...]

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/virgin-orbits-launcherone-meets-cosmic-girl-747
« Last Edit: 10/26/2018 06:25 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Online Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #310 on: 10/27/2018 02:42 am »
https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/virgin-orbits-launcherone-meets-cosmic-girl-747

Also saying that launch is now early next year.

"It will carry LauncherOne to more than 30,000 feet before the rocket engages its thrusters and flies into orbit early next year - travelling at 17,500mph, dropping off satellites and connecting the world."
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online catdlr

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #311 on: 10/27/2018 03:09 am »
Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne Rocket Mated to 'Cosmic Girl'

VideoFromSpace
Published on Oct 26, 2018

On Oct. 24, 2018, Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket was mated to its 'Cosmic Girl' carrier plane for the first time. The rocket can carry a 300 pound (660 kg) satellite into Sun-synchronous orbit at speeds over 17,500 mph.



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline ncb1397

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #312 on: 10/27/2018 03:15 am »
Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne Rocket Mated to 'Cosmic Girl'

VideoFromSpace
Published on Oct 26, 2018

On Oct. 24, 2018, Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket was mated to its 'Cosmic Girl' carrier plane for the first time. The rocket can carry a 300 pound (660 kg) satellite into Sun-synchronous orbit at speeds over 17,500 mph.


300 kg (660 pound)....

Offline Comga

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #313 on: 10/27/2018 07:07 pm »
Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne Rocket Mated to 'Cosmic Girl'

VideoFromSpace
Published on Oct 26, 2018

On Oct. 24, 2018, Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket was mated to its 'Cosmic Girl' carrier plane for the first time. The rocket can carry a 300 pound (660 kg) satellite into Sun-synchronous orbit at speeds over 17,500 mph.

300 kg (660 pound)....

So roughly 3/4 the capacity of Pegasus and twice that of Electron.
The exploded diagram around the 30 second mark in the video shows no “third stage” like HAPS or Curie, so the payload or payloads will go to a single orbit with the injection accuracy of the second stage.
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline Tomness

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #314 on: 10/27/2018 07:20 pm »
Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne Rocket Mated to 'Cosmic Girl'

VideoFromSpace
Published on Oct 26, 2018

On Oct. 24, 2018, Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket was mated to its 'Cosmic Girl' carrier plane for the first time. The rocket can carry a 300 pound (660 kg) satellite into Sun-synchronous orbit at speeds over 17,500 mph.

300 kg (660 pound)....

So roughly 3/4 the capacity of Pegasus and twice that of Electron.
The exploded diagram around the 30 second mark in the video shows no “third stage” like HAPS or Curie, so the payload or payloads will go to a single orbit with the injection accuracy of the second stage.

From their website Virgin Orbit

Restart able Second Stage
Quote
Once released from the carrier aircraft, the LauncherOne rocket fires up its single main stage engine, a 73,500 lbf, LOX/RP-1 rocket engine called the “NewtonThree.” Typically, this engine will fire for approximately three minutes. After stage separation, the single upper stage engine, a 5,000 lbf LOX/RP-1 rocket engine called the “NewtonFour” will carry the satellite(s) into orbit. Typically, the second stage will execute multiple burns totaling nearly six minutes.

Quote
At the end of this sequence, LauncherOne will deploy our customers’ satellite (or satellites) into their desired orbit. Both stages of LauncherOne will be safely deorbited, while the carrier aircraft will return to a predetermined airport, where it can be quickly prepared for its next flight.

Offline Comga

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #315 on: 10/27/2018 07:28 pm »
So it WILL be capable of multiple restarts and orbits, but all with the 5,000 lb thrust second stage “Newton 4”  engine.
Isn’t 6 minutes short for the total second stage burn? 
That says something about their optimization.
Have we heard how low that engine can throttle?
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Online CameronD

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #318 on: 10/29/2018 09:38 pm »
https://twitter.com/scott_macklin/status/1056628223415447552

Such a shame then that his new 'favorite couple 4ever' are not only destined to separate, but one of them is very likely to commit suicide shortly thereafter. :P
« Last Edit: 10/29/2018 09:38 pm 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.

Online meekGee

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Re: Virgin Orbit preparing for busy LauncherOne future
« Reply #319 on: 10/30/2018 02:35 pm »
https://twitter.com/scott_macklin/status/1056628223415447552

Such a shame then that his new 'favorite couple 4ever' are not only destined to separate, but one of them is very likely to commit suicide shortly thereafter. :P

And the other will just go back and hook up with another one-time stand.
ABCD - Always Be Counting Down

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