LauncherOne: Virgin Galactic’s Dedicated Launch Vehicle for Small Satellites

Paper number

IAC-16,D2,7,1,x33061

Coauthor

Ms. Sirisha Bandla, Virgin Galactic L.L.C, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Barry Matsumori, Virgin Galactic L.L.C, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Steve Isakowitz, Virgin Galactic L.L.C, United States

Coauthor

Mr. William Pomerantz, Virgin Galactic L.L.C, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Richard DalBello, Virgin Galactic, LLC, United States

Coauthor

Ms. Mandy Vaughn, Virgin Galactic, LLC, United States

Coauthor

Ms. Hanna Kubiak, Virgin Galactic, LLC, United States

Coauthor

Mr. A.C. Charania, Virgin Galactic, United States

Year

2016

Abstract

Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, is developing a space transportation service to provide affordable, dedicated rides to orbit for small satellites. A small satellite operator is typically forced to ride as a secondary payload, constrained to the primary payload’s launch schedule and orbit, or pay a significant amount more for a dedicated launch. However, LauncherOne, Virgin Galactic’s small satellite launch vehicle, will soon begin providing frequent, affordable, and dedicated transportation to orbit for small payloads.

LauncherOne is a two stage, liquid propulsion (LOX/RP) rocket launched from a Boeing 747-400. By utilizing air-launch, the system is designed to conduct operations from a variety of locations, removing the complexity associated with travel to distant launch sites. LauncherOne will allow customers to select from various launch azimuths and will increase available orbital launch windows. The Boeing aircraft that will carry LauncherOne has already been obtained by Virgin Galactic, and is preparing to undergo structural modifications.

Currently, LauncherOne’s 180,000 sq ft manufacturing and design facility in Long Beach, CA, USA is being outfitted with the remaining outstanding equipment needed for the manufacture of the rocket, and already staffs over a 150 employees. LauncherOne’s propulsion system is well into development and undergoing testing, and the team recently conducted a 90-second hotfire of the first stage NewtonThree engine at Virgin Galactic's test stand in Mojave, CA, USA. This presentation will further summarize the technical progress made on Virgin Galactic’s system in the past year, and discuss the road map ahead.

Abstract document

IAC-16,D2,7,1,x33061.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,D2,7,1,x33061.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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