A rendering of a Launcher One rocket detaching from its carrier plane.
Virgin OrbitRichard Branson's space launch company, Virgin Orbit, didn't manage to launch a rocket into orbit from midair on Monday as hoped.
The company's modified 747, Cosmic Girl, flew over the Pacific Ocean off California with the LauncherOne rocket attached to its belly and dropped it as planned, but then something went wrong.
"We've confirmed a clean release from the aircraft. However, the mission terminated shortly into the flight," the company announced on Twitter Monday afternoon.
We've confirmed a clean release from the aircraft. However, the mission terminated shortly into the flight. Cosmic Girl and our flight crew are safe and returning to base.
— Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) May 25, 2020
LauncherOne is Virgin Orbit's foray into the commercial satellite launch market, offering an alternative to traditional vertical launch options. The founders of competing companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab were quick to offer encouragement.
"Sorry to hear that. Orbit is hard. Took us four attempts with Falcon 1," SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted.
Sorry to hear that. Orbit is hard. Took us four attempts with Falcon 1.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 25, 2020
Virgin was quick to indicate it intends to make another attempt soon, sharing photos of its second rocket, which it hopes to test soon.
Here's our next rocket, built and ready for system-level testing in our final integration area as it waits for its turn to fly to space. pic.twitter.com/Zhc2uDtMMC
— Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) May 25, 2020
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