Small satellite launch company Virgin Orbit has successfully launched it’s LauncherOne rocket on its first operational flight since wrapping up its flight test program earlier this year. Launch occurred at 7:47 AM PDT (14:47 UTC), within the two hour window that opened at 6:00 AM PDT (13:00 UTC).
LauncherOne Flight Three, also known as “Tubular Bells Part One” in reference to the first track on the first album released by Richard Branson’s record label, Virgin Records, marks the first operational flight of LauncherOne, the rocket having previously flown two demonstration flights in May 2020 and January 2021. The mission placed seven small satellites into an approximately 500 km orbit with a 60 degree inclination around Earth.