2 minute read time.
The IET SoCal LN organizes 60-person tour of Virgin Orbit's Long Beach manufacturing plant to learn about its vehicles, the LauncherOne rocket and its 747-400 flying launch pad, dubbed Cosmic Girl.

 

I think one of the highlights for the SoCal LN event calendar this year will be the March 17, 2018 visit to, and tour of, Virgin Orbit's headquarters located in a 180,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Long Beach, California, adjacent to a taxi way at the Long Beach airport. Nearly 60 members and ther guests lined up ,on a cool Saturday morning, to pass through security and assemble in the main production area.  For the first time, we had more attendees under 45 (~36) than over 45 (~23), including 24 school children under 18, a testament to the interest in STEM activities and rockets from our younger attendees.  Virgin Orbit was very gracious to allow so many attendees, on one visit, to their manufacturing plant, especailly given Virgin Orbit’s systems are currently in an advanced stage of testing, with initial orbital launches expected in the next 6 to 12 months.

 
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Virgin Orbit is a new commercial space company that will offer flexible, routine and low cost launch services for small satellites via their LauncherOne two-stage rocket system. Virgin Orbit’s activities were previously conducted as a division of Virgin Galactic till last year.  Virgin Orbit is the third company in Virgin Group’s commercial space portfolio, Galactic Ventures, which is owned by the Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS. The three companies are developing world-leading aerospace products and services in the following categories, each contributing to their shared vision of opening space to change the world for good.


  1. Virgin Orbit: small satellite launch services, headquartered in Long Beach, CA.

  • Virgin Galactic: human spaceflight, based in Mojave, CA during flight test and commercial service in New Mexico’s Spaceport America.

  • The Spaceship Company: design, manufacturing, and testing of aerospace vehicles. Headquartered in Mojave, CA.


Virgin Orbit provides dedicated, responsive, and affordable launch services for small satellites. Virgin Orbit is developing LauncherOne, a flexible launch service for commercial and government-built satellites. LauncherOne rockets will be air-launched from a dedicated 747-400 carrier aircraft capable of operating from many locations in order to best serve each customer’s needs.


The tour included all aspects of the LauncherOne's main sub-systems, including the first and second stages, propellent tanks, engines, avionics, and associated processes. The manufacturing plant employs approximately 200 experienced aerospace professionals. Its vehicles include the LauncherOne rocket and its 747-400 flying launch pad, dubbed Cosmic Girl. The LauncherOne service already has a impressive order book, including both commercial and government customers.