Virgin Orbit has launched its first batch of small satellites on its Virgin Orbit converted jumbo jet (named ‘Cosmic Girl’). The launch took place from Virgin’s Mojave Desert location on January 17th at 18.50 GMT (1.50pm ET) The Virgin Orbit aircraft carried a 21 metre rocket (‘LauncherOne’) under its port (left) wing and deployed 10 […]
Virgin Orbit, the satellite launch business headed by Sir Richard Branson, has reportedly hired a couple of investment banks. Normally this suggests the company is looking for strategic investors or perhaps even a sale or merger. According to Space Intel Report (SIR) the Branson company has hired Lion Tree Advisors as well as Perella Weinberg […]
A research note from SG Cowan says that some 39 per cent of people with an admittedly high net-worth of more than $5 million are interested in paying Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic tourist flights to the very edge of space. “Cowen’s proprietary survey highlights a high level of interest among high-net-worth individuals to fly […]
Sir Richard Branson-backed Virgin Galactic is again pushing the date back when it might start carrying fee-paying passengers by another six months. Newly-appointed Michael Colglazier, the company’s CEO, told analysts that the company was still obtaining various Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permissions and certifications. Virgin said that these FAA tests, plus final test flights which […]
The UK is keen on establishing so-called Spaceports, whether in Scotland or the West of England. It has just signed a Treaty-level agreement with the US which allows use of US-built rockets from British locations. The UK’s Space Agency (UKSA) says that a US-UK Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) agreed in June potentially opens up activity […]