Virgin Orbit, part of Virgin Group, plans to provide launch services for small satellites. The company was established in 2017 to develop the LauncherOne rocket.
On 18 November, the Boeing 747-400 "Cosmic Girl" (N744VG) operated a test flight, carrying the LauncherOne rocket. It was attached to the left wing by means of a special support.
Test flight with LauncherOne rocket
The plane took off from Victorville, operating a test flight of one hour and 19 minutes. The LauncherOne rocket, 21.4 meters long, will undergo suborbital tests. In 2019, several launches from the Mojave airspace are scheduled.