Virgin Orbit launched a seven-satellite rocket from California's Mojave Aerospace Port on Saturday, marking the company's first successful overnight mission. Virgin Orbit launched satellites into low Earth orbit using its Boeing 747 carrier aircraft called Cosmic Girl, which had a LauncherOne rocket attached to it.

The mission, named Straight Up after a song by Paula Abdul, involved the launch of seven NASA research satellites. As in previous missions, the launch of the rocket took place from a height of 10 km, which climbed Cosmic Girl. The carrier plane's flight was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday, but Virgin Orbit postponed the mission after experts found LauncherOne's propellant temperature was "slightly out of range."

In total, Virgin Orbit has already carried out five launches, four of which were successful (only the first test was unsuccessful). Virgin Orbit is owned by British billionaire Richard Branson, but should not be confused with Virgin Galactic, the company's separate commercial spaceflight division.

bbabo.Net