Virgin Galactic hasannouncedthat upcoming launch of itsLauncherOnerocket will be carried out with the assistance of a Boeing 747 plane . The rocket will be used to take small satellites into range chop-chop and cheaply , without the need for costly upright launch .
The modified 747 , nicknamed the “ Cosmic Girl , ” will replace the existing WhiteKnightTwo for these remote-controlled launches . WhiteKnightTwois a immense mothership plane that will be used for launches of Virgin Galactic , which will take pay tourists into blank space , and had been signify for LauncherOne as well , but the party has now taken a dissimilar approach .
According to the company , using a Boeing 747 will allow for more frequent and varied launches , with the airplane able to take flying from a number of location and free satellite into wide - ranging orbits .
The LauncherOne rocket will be attached to the left wing of the sheet and carried into the air travel . It will then come off and ignite , taking a little satellite to orbital f number and launching it into electron orbit , while the planing machine return to the ground to be used again . Other rockets , like Orbital Sciences’Pegasus , operate in a exchangeable manner .
" atmosphere launch enable us to provide rapid , reactive service of process to our satellite client on a schedule set by their occupation and in operation needs , rather than the constraints of national launching ranges , " said George Whitesides , Virgin Galactic CEO , in astatement . " Selecting the 747 airframe allow for a dedicated platform that have us the electrical capacity to substantially increase our payload to orbit without increasing our prices . "
An artist ’s impression of LauncherOne . Virgin Galactic
Launching in this manner , rather than a vertical launching from the ground , allows for a comparatively cheaper method to pass on celestial orbit . It can launch satellites of more than 400 kilo ( 880 pounds ) , with prices starting around $ 10 million ( £ 6.6 million ) , a factor of 10 tacky than aregular launch . Although Virgin Galactic has not revealed exact pricing yet , it is have a bun in the oven to be significantly less expensive than a full orbital launching from the ground .
The rocket itself is discarded after each use , but the 747 can be reused again and again for launch like this , put up party with a low - price option to reach space . " The Boeing 747 has a very special place in my heart and soul : we begin service on my first airway , Virgin Atlantic , with just one leased 747 , " Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson said in the statement . " I never imagined that today one of our 747s would get a second chance and help open access to space . I ’m absolutely thrilled that Cosmic Girl can bide in the Virgin folk – and truly dwell up to her name ! "
As mentioned , WhiteKnightTwo will continue to be used for launch of the Virgin Galactic spaceplane , which is still awaiting a return to flight after thetragedy last yearthat saw test pilot Michael Alsbury kill when the unique feathering system , used to rejoin from space through the standard atmosphere , was by chance activated at mellow speed .
Check out a video of LauncherOne in action below .
