Question: Which of the following known as Cosmic Girl by the Richard Branson’s space company ‘Virgin Orbit’?
a) Boeing 747 jet
b) Launch Pad
c) Launch vehicle
d) None of these
Answer: (a)
Related Facts:
- On 30 June 2021; Virgin Orbit successfully launched seven satellites into their planned orbits.
- In this latest launch Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit delivered satellites from three countries into space.
- It was the second successful rocket launch by the company from a jet plane.
- The company’s modified 747 jet, named as ‘Cosmic Girl’ took part in the launch of satellites as it carried with itself a two-stage LauncherOne rocket.
- Cosmic Girl jet took off from California’s Mojave Desert, carrying this 70-foot LauncherOne rocket beneath its left wing.
- LauncherOne rocket detached from the jet over the Pacific near the Channel Islands and then it fired its engine to head to space.
- The drop occurred at an altitude of about 37,000 feet.
- LauncherOne rocket carried with itself the satellites from the U.S. Defense Department, the Royal Netherlands Air Force and Poland’s SatRevolution company.
- Virgin Orbit later declared success, saying the satellites were in the proper orbit.
Links:-
https://www.space.com/virgin-orbit-launch-seven-satellies
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/richard-bransons-virgin-orbit-launches-7-satellites-from-747-jet-01625087634