Virgin Orbit fails UK's first rocket launch over $100 component

In January, Virgin Orbit wanted to make the first ever rocket launch from the UK. But the mission is Start Me

Up failed, causing the company's share price to fall. The reason may be a $100 component.

What is known

Virgin Orbit Dan Hart (Dan Hart) in the frameworkThe SmallSat Symposium in Mountain View, California, said the mission failed due to a filter in the rocket's second stage engine. So far, this is what all the evidence points to.

The cost of the component is approximately $100.It was installed correctly, but during the flight it shifted, which led to the fall of the rocket. The company continues to investigate the incident. Dan Hart stated that Virgin Orbit will not use this filter and is already looking for a replacement.

LauncherOne rocket launched from the spaceport inCornwall on 10 January at 00:02 (EET). She separated from the carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl at an altitude of 10 km. 210 seconds after starting the main engine, the first stage separated. However, a problem in the second stage engine caused the rocket to go down.