Virgin Galactic buys Boeing 747 for LauncherOne
Posted: Sun, Dec 6, 2015, 10:02 AM ET (1502 GMT)
Virgin Galactic unveiled Thursday a Boeing 747 that will serve as the carrier aircraft for its LauncherOne smallsat vehicle. The 747, previously owned by Virgin Atlantic, will be modified to allow LauncherOne to attach to the plane's left wing. Using the 747, rather than Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo plane, allows the company to increase the size of LauncherOne, doubling its payload performance. Modifications to the 747 will be done in late 2016, and LauncherOne test launches are planned for some time in 2017.
Virgin Galactic unveiled Thursday a Boeing 747 that will serve as the carrier aircraft for its LauncherOne smallsat vehicle. The 747, previously owned by Virgin Atlantic, will be modified to allow LauncherOne to attach to the plane's left wing. Using the 747, rather than Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo plane, allows the company to increase the size of LauncherOne, doubling its payload performance. Modifications to the 747 will be done in late 2016, and LauncherOne test launches are planned for some time in 2017.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 16
The Trump Administration Leaned on African Countries. The Goal: Get Business for Elon Musk.
ProPublica — 5:31 am ET (0931 GMT) Senators Call for Ethics Inquiry into Trump Administration Benefitting Elon Musk and Starlink in Trade Negotiations
ViaSatellite — 5:29 am ET (0929 GMT) Democratic senators ask for probe into whether Trump administration is aiding Musk's Starlink in securing foreign deals
Spectrum News — 5:29 am ET (0929 GMT) SpaceX targeting Friday morning for Starlink mission from Vandenberg SFB
Lompoc Record — 5:28 am ET (0928 GMT) ??Golden Dome’s Price Tag Will Likely Exceed Half a Trillion Dollars, Space Force Chief Says
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) |
