The reason for the launch failure highlights the difficulty of rocket launches that can derail problems
“The data indicates that since the first combustion of the second stage, the fuel filter in the fuel supply line has been displaced from its normal position,” the company explained.
To date, Virgin Orbit has carried outfour successful missile launches from US territory. However, on January 9, the company failed to launch from the UK for the first time. Shortly after Cosmic Girl's plane took off into the sky, it successfully dropped a 21m-long LauncherOne rocket attached to its left wing. But during the operation of the LauncherOner second stage engine, the rocket developed a problem with the fuel filter, which led to the loss of the rocket, as well as all nine satellites that it put into orbit.
Cosmic Girl is a Boeing 747-400.The former passenger airliner operated by Virgin Atlantic was acquired by Virgin Galactic in 2015 for use as the first stage launch platform for the LauncherOne small orbital launch vehicle.
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On the cover: photo of Virgin Orbit from social networks