Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit reached space on Sunday after it successfully launched a rocket mid-air from beneath the wing of a modified Boeing 747-400.
The California-based company's LauncherOne rocket put 10 Nasa satellites in orbit during its second demonstration flight, marking an important milestone after the company failed in its first attempt last year.
"A new gateway to space has just sprung open," said Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit's chief executive.
“Even in the face of a global pandemic, we have maintained a laser focus on fully demonstrating every element of this revolutionary launch system. That effort paid off today with a beautifully executed mission.”
The modified Virgin Atlantic 747, which was named Cosmic Girl, took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port and flew out to a launch site over the Pacific Ocean, about 80km south of the Channel Islands.
The two-stage rocket then ignited its NewtonThree engine to make its first successful trip to space.
The small satellites put in orbit are called CubeSats and were designed, built and tested by universities across the US, including Brigham Young University, the University of Michigan and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as part of a Nasa educational programme.
“Virgin Orbit has achieved something many thought impossible,” said Mr Branson, founder of the Virgin Group.
“This magnificent flight is the culmination of many years of hard work and will also unleash a whole new generation of innovators on the path to orbit.”
After the successful demonstration, Virgin Orbit will officially transition into a commercial service for its next mission, the company said.
It said it has launches booked by the US Space Force, the UK’s Royal Air Force and commercial customers such as Swarm Technologies, Italy’s Sitael and Denmark’s GomSpace.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
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Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
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Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
