Virgin Galactic Will Use A Boeing 747 To Launch Satellites Into Space

Virgin Boss Sir Richard Branson is reusing one of his airline’s Boeing 747s as a launch platform for sending satellite rockets into space.

The repurposed airliner - which previously operated as a trans-atlantic jet under the name ‘Cosmic Girl’ - will carry the rocket booster to high altitude where it will be released to blast off into orbit.

Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne will be mounted to the former passenger jet underneath the left wing and is capable of carrying satellites and cargo into orbit.

Branson said: “The Boeing 747 has a very special place in my heart: we began service on my first airline, Virgin Atlantic, with just one leased 747.

“I never imagined that today one of our 747s would get a second chance and help open access to space. I’m absolutely thrilled that Cosmic Girl can stay in the Virgin family — and truly live up to her name!”.

The LauncherOne would be released by the 747 at a specified height (Virgin Galactic)

The 747’s size and carrying capacity along with its operational flexibility, long range, ability to operate in all kinds of weather along with an abundance of spare parts and maintenance knowledge, means that it is an ideal moving launch platform for the LauncherOne.

Boeing 747s have previously been used by NASA to transport the space shuttle back to base from alternative landing sites and also to transport the remaining orbiters to museums after they were decommissioned.

NASA also used a modified 747 for test flights in the atmosphere involving the Enterprise space shuttle, which was the first of the fleet to be built, but which was never destined for spaceflight.

Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft remains the launch vehicle for its SpaceShipTwo space plane which will eventually take tourists on suborbital space flights.

The company’s first SpaceShipTwo craft crashed during a test flight on 31 October 2014, killing one pilot and injuring the other.

A second spacecraft is under construction.

Image credit: Virgin Galactic