Virgin Orbit set for UK's first-ever space rocket launch

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Virgin Orbit set for UK's first-ever space rocket launch

Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc. said it’s on course for Britain’s first-ever space launch as final preparations for the mission proceed as planned following earlier delays.

The takeoff of a modified Boeing Co. 747 jetliner with a rocket under its wing from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, England, is planned between 9:40 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday, the company said in a briefing.

[Bloomberg]

 

[garyc]

The UK has done a space launch before. They developed the Black Arrow rocket and put up a satellite. The Americans told them to stop it and use their rockets instead. The UK obeyed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Arrow



Maybe the article should state that this is the first launch from UK soil (rather than Australian), even though it is an American rocket.

 

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Virgin Orbit's first UK rocket launch a failure

A rocket launched by a Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc. 747 aircraft failed to deploy its nine satellites as planned Monday, sending the company’s shares plunging.

It’s an unexpected ending for the mission, which would have added Britain to the ranks of countries able to launch from their own soil. Virgin Orbit shares fell 25% in after-hours trade.

[Bloomberg]

 

[Gordon_R]

Seems to have been a second stage failure. The actual rocket has 4 previous successful launches (from the USA).

UK space launch: Historic Cornwall rocket launch ends in failure

The first ever satellite mission launched from UK soil has a technical problem on its climb to space.

www.bbc.com

 

[r00igev@@r]

It seems to have suffered a premature ejaculation.

 

[yebocan]

It seems to have suffered a premature ejaculation.

well our resident expert on the subject may be able to assist them to narrow down what went wrong...- @ShaunSA

 

[r00igev@@r]

well our resident expert on the subject may be able to assist them to narrow down what went wrong...- @ShaunSA

Maybe they didn't unzip first?

 

[Gordon_R]

Scott Manley video gives an overview based on partial data available:

 

[Pak Fa Fui]

The most underwhelming rocket launch ever

 

[Dave]

The most underwhelming rocket launch ever

You being the expert on underwhelming things, I suppose?

 

[Dave]

The UK has done a space launch before. They developed the Black Arrow rocket and put up a satellite. The Americans told them to stop it and use their rockets instead. The UK obeyed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Arrow

I seem to recall that the Black Arrow program had the plug pulled by British bean counters, not US pressure. They came to the conclusion buying slots on NASA launches was cheaper.

 

[Pak Fa Fui]

You being the expert on underwhelming things, I suppose?

It was a plane taking off and hopelessly failing at executing its mission

 

[Dave]

It was a plane taking off and hopelessly failing at executing its mission

So how did the plane fail in its mission?

 

[RonSwanson]

This is how you do it.

 

[Gordon_R]

Reported cause found:

UK space launch: Dislodged fuel filter blamed for rocket failure

Virgin Orbit says a dislodged filter caused a rocket engine to overheat, leading to a malfunction.

www.bbc.com

"The data is indicating that, from the beginning of the second stage first burn, a fuel filter within the fuel feedline had been dislodged from its normal position," Virgin Orbit tweeted.

"Additional data shows that the fuel pump that is downstream of the filter operated at a degraded efficiency level, resulting in the Newton 4 engine being starved for fuel. Performing in this anomalous manner resulted in the engine operating at a significantly higher than rated engine temperature.

"The early thrust termination ended the mission, and the second stage and its payloads fell back to Earth, landing in the approved safety corridor in the Atlantic Ocean."