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Leidos' Lonestar program comes to successful close

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Lonestar, a technology demonstrator designed to provide space-based situational awareness directly into the hands of the tactical warfighter, launched on July 1, 2022, from the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Key Points: 
  • Lonestar, a technology demonstrator designed to provide space-based situational awareness directly into the hands of the tactical warfighter, launched on July 1, 2022, from the Mojave Air and Space Port.
  • "Lonestar completed all of its on-orbit checkouts in the first 30 days," said Jonathan Pettus, Aerospace, Civil and Defense operations manager for Leidos Dynetics.
  • Lonestar's on-orbit satellite and payload operations were supported by USASMDC's payload development laboratory at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

California Science Center Completes Installation of Two Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motors for Upcoming Go for Stack Configuration

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 9, 2023

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, two 116-foot long Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), each weighing over 100,000 lbs., were securely lifted by crane and stacked in their final vertical position at the California Science Center. The placement is the latest achievement in Go for Stack, the complex, multi-phase process of moving and lifting each of the components into place for the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle system.

Key Points: 
  • The California Science Center team then mated the SRMs to the previously installed Aft Skirts using 177 2-inch long pins for each motor.
  • The SRMs arrived less than a month ago, after a journey from the Mojave Air and Space Port, and were the final elements of the space shuttle system to arrive at the California Science Center.
  • The space shuttle stack will include the orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and an External Tank.
  • The roughly six-month Go for Stack process began in July with the installation of the Solid Rocket Booster Aft Skirts.

California Science Center to Continue the Next Phase of Go for Stack with the Arrival of the Solid Rocket Motors on October 11, 2023

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 5, 2023

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 11, 2023, exactly eleven years after Space Shuttle Endeavour made its 12-mile journey across the streets of Los Angeles and Inglewood, the California Science Center invites the public to come out and watch the arrival of two large Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), the next phase of Go for Stack – the complex, multi-phase process of moving and lifting each of the space shuttle components into place for Endeavour's upcoming awe-inspiring 20-story vertical display. The SRMs, donated by Northrop Grumman, have been stored at the Mojave Air and Space Port, and are the final elements of the space shuttle system to arrive at the California Science Center. The components that will make up the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle stack include the orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and External Tank.

Key Points: 
  • The components that will make up the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle stack include the orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and External Tank.
  • The SRMs will be transported by freeway until the last leg of their journey to the California Science Center.
  • The California Science Center will open an hour early at 9:00 a.m. on October 11th as part of a Solid Rocket Motor Arrival Celebration.
  • Next the Solid Rocket Motors and forward assemblies will be stacked to form the Solid Rocket Boosters.

Virgin Orbit Update on UK Mission Anomaly

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

On 9 January 2023, during the first attempted orbital launch from the United Kingdom, Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne experienced an anomaly, leading to a premature shutdown of the rocket and failure to reach orbit.

Key Points: 
  • On 9 January 2023, during the first attempted orbital launch from the United Kingdom, Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne experienced an anomaly, leading to a premature shutdown of the rocket and failure to reach orbit.
  • Virgin Orbit began its investigation into the failure within hours of the conclusion of the mission, under the leadership of distinguished aerospace veteran Jim Sponnick and Virgin Orbit Chief Engineer Chad Foerster.
  • The investigation has confirmed that the Virgin Orbit team successfully executed pre-flight preparations, carrier aircraft takeoff, captive carry flight, and rocket release.
  • Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit, said: “In space launch, a failure is painful for all involved.

Poland’s SatRev Signs On for Future Virgin Orbit Flights

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 3, 2023

Virgin Orbit (NASDAQ: VORB) and Poland-based satellite manufacturer SatRev announced a follow-on launch services agreement (LSA) for additional launches of SatRev’s satellites in 2023 and beyond.

Key Points: 
  • Virgin Orbit (NASDAQ: VORB) and Poland-based satellite manufacturer SatRev announced a follow-on launch services agreement (LSA) for additional launches of SatRev’s satellites in 2023 and beyond.
  • Four satellites built by SatRev have already been delivered to Low Earth Orbit by Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system onboard missions Tubular Bells and Above the Clouds.
  • Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said, “The team at SatRev continues to advance the frontiers of what is possible to accomplish with a constellation of smaller, more affordable satellites.
  • SatRev will soon start deploying ScopeSat, with the revolutionary DeploScope technology, which will enable SatRev to collect high resolution data from 6U CubeSats.

Update on “Start Me Up” Mission Anomaly

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 12, 2023

The Start Me Up mission was the first orbital launch attempt in history conducted from western Europe.

Key Points: 
  • The Start Me Up mission was the first orbital launch attempt in history conducted from western Europe.
  • The rocket then ignited its first stage engine, quickly going hypersonic and successfully completing the stage one burn.
  • Later in the mission, at an altitude of approximately 180 km, the upper stage experienced an anomaly.
  • This event ended the mission, with the rocket components and payload falling back to Earth within the approved safety corridor without ever achieving orbit.

Virgin Orbit Earns AS9100 Certification, Building on Its Perfect Satellite Launch Record

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 16, 2022

With 33 satellites delivered to space and each positioned precisely in their chosen orbit, we have shown the capability and quality of our launch system, said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart.

Key Points: 
  • With 33 satellites delivered to space and each positioned precisely in their chosen orbit, we have shown the capability and quality of our launch system, said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart.
  • Our focus now is building on that track record even as we scale up production at our factory and as we bring our launch operations to new facilities like Spaceport Cornwall.
  • The scope of the audit included a review of the Companys design, development, production, testing, and launch of its LauncherOne orbital space launch system.
  • Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) operates one of the most flexible and responsive space launch systems ever built.

Greenbriar Celebrates 3,000 New Union Jobs Near Sage Ranch

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 12, 2022

Sage Ranch offers 995 new homes in the cleanest and safest community in Kern County at only an 18 to 25 minute drive away - to one buyer.

Key Points: 
  • Sage Ranch offers 995 new homes in the cleanest and safest community in Kern County at only an 18 to 25 minute drive away - to one buyer.
  • The supervisors unanimously voted to designate a privately-owned 410-acre site near the southeast corner of state highways 14 and 58 as the Mojave Inland Port.
  • The port location has direct access from state highways and is bisected by the Lone Pine Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad.
  • With the addition of new jobs, significant air quality improvement, and reduced road congestion, this is a total win for our community."

Virgin Orbit Successfully Launches ‘Straight Up’ Mission

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, July 2, 2022

In support of its mission partners, Virgin Orbit has now delivered a total of thirty-three satellites to orbit with 100% mission success.

Key Points: 
  • In support of its mission partners, Virgin Orbit has now delivered a total of thirty-three satellites to orbit with 100% mission success.
  • The contract to launch this mission, also dubbed STP-S28, was awarded to Virgin Orbit National Systems in April 2020 by the United States Space Force as a three-launch mission.
  • The LauncherOne rocket and Virgin Orbit team have made me immensely proud with todays Straight Up mission, said Virgin Orbit founder Richard Branson.
  • It was incredible to see the Straight Up mission wheels up, and satellites successfully deployed to support the mission of our customers.

Virgin Orbit on Target for Next Launch Window to Open June 29

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 24, 2022

The dress rehearsals are complete, and the company remains on track for its upcoming Straight Up launch, with a launch window opening on June 29 at 10 pm PDT.

Key Points: 
  • The dress rehearsals are complete, and the company remains on track for its upcoming Straight Up launch, with a launch window opening on June 29 at 10 pm PDT.
  • The target orbit for Straight Up is approximately 500 km above the Earths surface at a 45-degree inclination.
  • Virgin Orbit is the first company to achieve this feat from California through its Above the Clouds launch which was completed earlier this year.
  • Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) operates one of the most flexible and responsive space launch systems ever built.