Virgin Orbit Launches Payloads From Boeing 747

On 13 January 2022,Virgin Orbit launched and deployed seven satellites via the Cosmic Girl aircraft,which is a modified Boeing 747-400,and a LauncherOne rocket carried under the aircraft's left wing at the Mojave Air and Spaceport,California.The satellites included a national security mission for the U.S. DoD Space Test Program (STP) of the Defense Innovation Unit.The aim of the STP is to develop space capabilities for the joint warfighter.This national security launch was part of the STP Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI).* The Virgin Orbit launch procedure allows direct injection into orbit that no ground-launched vehicle can provide,thus saving customers time and money (less fuel is required).As well,the Virgin Orbit launch system enables launch through weather and cloud layers that would cancel a ground launch.Thus it facilitates launching anytime anywhere and without warning-aspects critical to military mission success.* Besides the Defense Department,other customers on the launch included Spire Global and Poland's SatRevolution firm.The CubeSats deployed will conduct experiments in advanced space communications;space navigation and propulsion;and global agricultural applications.To date,Virgin Orbit and its wholly-owned subsidiary VOX Space LLC have successfully launched and deployed 26 satellites.* The flight team was lead by pilot Eric Bippert and Flight Lieutenant Mathew "Stanny" Stannard,Royal Air Force Test Pilot.* Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (VORB),Spire Global Inc (SPIR),Boeing (BA)