Virgin Orbit successfully reaches orbit with Launcher One!

[@OLHZN]

Do you think we'll see Virgin Orbit start to increase the frequency of launches now that they've made it?!

[@vesawuoristo4162]

Most likely, is that not the goal? 😁

[@BBDoesTheThing]

I think yes to help get the costs down....but they really need to get the cost down lol

[@jeechun]

Depends on how many customers, contracts they have, imo. Now, as they demonstrated they can launch, the trust (in thrust ;) ) will increase, so they can launch more (frequently). Yep, also depends on the rate of manufacturing of LauncherOne (see, that's why Rocket Lab developed reusability).

[@ramonmedina2160]

the miyonsrio never ends his goals like his special balloon that said he would give the world a spin and never isolate it

[@newsgetsold]

Anything over 1 is an increase, right?

[@smallstars]

I think Virgin Orbit needs 3 to 5 more of these successes before I feel confident putting my satellite on it 😉. Great video Tory!

[@OLHZN]

Hey thanks! I agree... 1 for 2 isn't great, but hopefully it's just the beginning! 😃

[@graem5890]

I want to say they are contracted for like 7 missions so far, including some for the Air Force. So will they launch as frequently as Rocket lab? I think so. Will be interesting to see these two compete.

[@Mottbox]

well, that didn't work out.

[@GillesOfEarth]

Very informative video explaining the differences in engine bell sizes!

[@garbon1450]

Main advantage: It can be launched to basicly any inclination

[@UnexpectedBooks]

... and from any location.

[@framryk0]

Excellent video! Would love to see them fly out of the UK, if they can get approval for Cornwall or Scotland. And here’s hoping they make the launch stream public next time, the telemetry and camera views look awesome. 🤩👍

[@mathiaslist6705]

you never can tell! I think "orbital infrastructure" like refilling and repairing in orbit could be a game changer ... refilling in orbit could solve the heat shield problem as fuel can be used for braking and probably full reuseability is a thing --- the other thing is if "bad weather delays are really a thing or just a minor issue"

[@sebgiannini7864]

This is a old concept air launched rocket system was actually pioneered by the US airforce to test the feasibility of a air launched icbm witch in fact did work,but with the development of the air launched cruise missle I guess they figured silo based icbm made more sense.

[@marktroxel7000]

For the nay sayers, you could call it T-minus Tuesdays. Then you could set a countdown clock for any short period of time you want. Go 3 mins one day and 4 the next etc...

[@MrHichammohsen1]

There is no more competitor to the delta IV heavy since its discontinued and has a couple of launches left. And also the advantage VO has is that they can probably fly to the equator and launch from there and save around 300 dv.

[@jaydeister9305]

"Yeah, it looks great! Still a long way from the Thunderbirds."

[@JohnDoe-tt6bh]

Technically the biggest plane (in service by wing span) was bolted together by Stratolaunch to deliver larger payloads to space, though the second stage vehicle contracts remain in limbo currently along with it's future... seemingly.

[@Sill1992]

Would love to do a more deeper dive in these video's! Thanks for the vid, enjoyed it!

[@jeremycox2983]

I really think they will. With added competition brings innovations it’s no different than the rivalry between SpaceX and UNITED Launch Alliance.

[@ArcoHollestelle]

You pointed out that Rocketlab is cheaper than Virgin, but virgin can launch 100kg more than Rocketlab. And a major upside of virgin's launch system is that they can launch from pretty much anywhere at any time to any orbit. They could theoretically launch quicker after you sign a contract. also the weather will be less of an issue since they go above most weather. I think Virgin is solid competition for the other launch providers out there.

[@OLHZN]

I should've been more clear. Virgin Orbit's capacity is 300kg to 500kg, depending on target altitude. Similarly, Rocket Lab's capacity is 200kg to 300kg so Virgin Orbit is very competitive at the cost. I guess what I was trying to say is that all the extra effort for air launch leads to a pretty similar cost, not an enormous & obvious benefit. Still very competitive, though.

[@jasonellingson883]

Questions: Does this help make launch times more reliable as they can navigate away from poor weather (including wind shear concerns)? Does this allow for more inclination options with less/no fuel waste required to adjust to correct inclination? How far away from "home" can the aircraft fly and still drop-launch (can have home be someplace cheaper than near the coasts)? Can a satellite sit ready for a nearly immediate load and launch to place an observational satellite into orbit (natural disaster, search/rescue, spying, etc)? Can an anti-satellite warhead be mounted and launched similarly? Sounds like some possible features unique to this platform of theirs.

[@odysseusrex5908]

The answers to all of your questions are yes. As to how far away the plane could go, with a 747, thousands of miles.

[@randywelt8210]

Nicely done. Next, let's discuss Maglev Tech. HyperLoop as rocket launch system on the Moon or Pluto?

[@GillesOfEarth]

Will be interesting to see if they can actually compete with a company live Rocket Lab who has cheaper rockets 🤔

[@tyler60904]

And reusable 1st stages soon too.

[@Mattsretiring]

Great info. Thanks

[@ramonmedina2160]

and was lost for not fearing a parachute

[@ejcorreia2]

Thanks for the video! Since Virgin already had a fleet of jets, wouldn't it be fair to say that the expense of purchase, maintenance, crew and support staff was minimized? And I think Virgin will remain in the business as long as there's a profit potential.

[@odysseusrex5908]

Virgin Orbit has the advantage of flexibility of launch site but I don't think that is really going to overcome their being nearly twice as expensive as Rocket Lab. Now, right now the small sat market is booming and there are very few providers serving it. Therefore, Virgin Orbit will be able to get customers who have the cash but who can't be served by Rocket Lab or a rideshare with SpaceX or ISRO. As Firefly and Relativity and other vertical launch providers come on line though, with prices closer to Rocket Lab's, that business will seek those lower price points and, I think, Virgin Orbit will not be able to compete. In the meantime though, Go, Baby, Go!

[@tudormuntean3299]

When did you have time to make and edit this video?

[@OLHZN]

lol if you asked me this yesterday and Sunday I would've told you that I didn't have time for this 🤣🤷‍♂️

[@JohnDoe-tt6bh]

This ride could actually be cheaper than RL once they iron out the kinks in the rocket and boost engine efficiency.

[@thebosschicken3791]

Anyone else rate this channel

[@blueyintros4482]

i like the jacket tory!

[@Amuzic_Earth]

It can be profitable if they launch 4 rockets in a single plane(at different altitude or different location) with each rocket carrying their separate loads.

[@Eric_the_Hiking]

Imagine Major T. J. "King" Kong riding this.

[@odysseusrex5908]

That's the only scene in that whole movie that really makes me laugh. I bust out every time I see it.

[@nothingtoseehere4026]

Curious why nozzle sizing isn't dynamic and computer controlled to match the atmospheric changes.

[@benGman69]

In 10 years or so it would be interesting to see if Virgin upgrades their plane to an Antonov an-225!

[@bigbrad3441]

I think they will be nothing more than a tourist ride to space. Maybe a small satellite, every now once and a while to keep it in everyone's mind that they can launch satellites.

[@alphebetguy]

slap another rocket to other wing and we can reduce the cost significantly.

[@paintballercali]

Time to go to KSP and make an air launched starship.

[@GuillemPoy]

Isn't the wide variety of orbits available a major advantage in addition to the altitude?

[@Aesahaetr]

They already received numerous emails and calls from satellite companies that are interested after their successful launch. 😎💹💸🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

[@azizudin7877]

It's basically a WWII Bomber but instead of an atom bomb, it's a rocket.. Edit: just realised the first launch was basically a bomb :\

[@paintballercali]

I need to 3d print a starship.

[@randomexplorer7467]

Make a video on India's upcoming SSLV

[@ivantalavera4748]

This didn’t age well

[@wongweihao3445]

Saw your cool Starship 3d model! Where to get it? 1:52

[@OLHZN]

morethan3d.com/starship-s1/

[@wongweihao3445]

@@OLHZN Thanks man! Didn't expect a reply from such a great KZbinr!

[@marktroxel7000]

Go back to “Two Minute Tuesday’s”😎

[@OLHZN]

2MT will be back, don't worry 😉

[@sutibusan8273]

I thought that the ratio of Virgin Orbit's to Rocket Lab's capacity was 500 kg / 300 kg, so that the ratio of $12 / $7.5 mil yielded an almost identical cost/kg? Hmm... but if Virgin Orbit is a higher cost/kg, I guess you are paying for the flexibility of launch locations, which has interested Space Cornwall in the UK.

[@OLHZN]

Yep, I guess I should've been more clear. Virgin Orbit's capacity is 300kg to 500kg, depending on target altitude. Similarly, Rocket Lab's capacity is 200kg to 300kg so Virgin Orbit is very competitive at the cost. I guess what I was trying to say is that all the extra effort for air launch leads to a pretty similar cost, not an enormous & obvious benefit. Still very competitive, though.

[@sutibusan8273]

@@OLHZN Gotcha. Thanks!

[@nooneyouneedtoknow6726]

4:48 What is the achievment doing there??

[@briankgarland]

Aw, that's cute!

[@OdeeOz]

I can't count how often I have wondered, Why they don't add a mechanical device to the Sea Level engines, that narrows the nozzle end for more efficiency, like the have in afterburner jet engines?

[@OdeeOz]

@@ImieNazwiskoOK Those _small rocket engines,_ are mostly larger than fighter jet ones.

[@snuffeldjuret]

@@OdeeOz I would have guessed on it being very expensive, which you can deal with for a reusable jet but not for a non-reusable rocket.

[@OdeeOz]

@@snuffeldjuret Helloooo. Elon Musk is _reusing_ these rocket boosters.

[@snuffeldjuret]

@@OdeeOz that's a recent thing though.

[@OdeeOz]

@@snuffeldjuret So is Virgin's launch. While Afterburner throttled nozzles are 1950's tech

[@warrenh3515]

What about launching a rocket from a high altitude ballon?

[@newsgetsold]

It will give far worse performance than the first stage of a rocket. Here is some math if they used balloons for the Space Shuttle... A high altitude weather balloon can carry 1.2kg to 40 km up. The ~77 ton Shuttle would therefore need 65,000 balloons. And you would also need a lot of cables and lines to tether the balloons so that they can hold all the mass. Even if that were somehow possible, the side SRBs don't normally separate until 45 km up at an upwards velocity over mach 4 (3,000 mph). The balloons would give you almost 0 mph after they burst, plus you would have to clear the path of unburst balloons and all their tethering so that the shuttle can ascend further. So even by riding balloons to 40 km up, you would still need the external fuel tank and a heap of fuel to get up to mach 24 and 100 km altitude. So then the balloons concept becomes absolutely incomprehensible as you may need over 1 million balloons to carry the necessary fuel to reach orbit.

[@foxabilo]

Makes you wonder about launching a small rocket from a balloon 🤔

[@paintballercali]

The pegasus was so unreliable I hope virgin figured it out.

[@newsgetsold]

Elon Musk on air launch to orbit: "it seems like...you're high up there and so surely that's good and you're going at...0.7 or 0.8 Mach and you've got some speed and altitude, you can use a higher expansion ratio on the nozzle, doesn't all that add up to a meaningful improvement in payload to orbit? "The answer is no, it does not, unfortunately. It's quite a small improvement. It's maybe a 5% improvement in payload to orbit...and then you've got this humungous plane to deal with. Which is just like having a stage. From SpaceX's standpoint, would it make more sense to have a gigantic plane or to increase the size of the first stage by five percent? Uhh, I'll take option two. "And then, once you get beyond a certain scale, you just can't make the plane big enough. When you drop...the rocket, you have the slight problem that you're not going the right direction. If you look at what Orbital Sciences did with Pegasus, they have a delta wing to do the turn maneuver but then you've got this big wing that's added a bunch of mass and you've able to mostly, but not entirely, convert your horizontal velocity into vertical velocity, or mostly vertical velocity, and the net is really not great."

[@OLHZN]

I had the clip of him saying this in the video, but I ended up cutting it out 🙃

[@vorisha]

Please tell me at what altitude does the plane drop the rocket?

[@fromnorway643]

35,000 feet. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_Girl_(aircraft)

[@isabo3556]

What would happen if the rocket did not detach from the plane? Wouldn't the plane go to space? Don't know about you but I'm still hopeful that men invents a puddle jumper/deltaflyer/shuttlepod.

[@odysseusrex5908]

The rocket can only put a few hundred kilograms into space. Obviously it could not drag a 747 along that far. Of course, they drop the rocket *before* lighting the engine in order to avoid disaster but if, somehow, the engine were to light while it was still attached, and they could not drop it, it would tear the plane apart.

[@fromnorway643]

@@odysseusrex5908 That rocket is far from powerful enough to tear the plane apart. Its first stage thrust is only 73,500 pounds, or some 26-27 % more than the thrust from _each_ of that 747's own four engines.

[@fabioferreiragomes]

Incrível

[@multi_misa72]

Eeep no, next to spacex and rocket lab they don't make a chance

[@txkflier]

I don’t get it..

[@FRainman]

So this is your way of disguising five and a half minutes Tuesday, huh? Great job tho!

[@ylette]

Really?

[@OLHZN]

Really.

[@vesawuoristo4162]

Good info thanks.