Virgin Orbit attaches giant Launcher One rocket to a commercial jet

Virgin Orbit’s modified “Cosmic Girl” jet airplane will soar the “Launcher One” orbital rocket to a mid-flight launch.Virgin Orbit; Business Insider

Sir Richard Branson‘s newest space company, Virgin Orbit, just debuted its full rocket-and-airplane launch system for the first time.

The airplane is a commercial 747-400 jet called “Cosmic Girl,” and the orbital-class rocket is named “LauncherOne.”

Virgin Orbit aims to use the retrofitted jet to tow LauncherOne as high above Earth as possible, release the rocket, and then blast a small-satellite payload into orbit around Earth.

“Air launch frees missions from traffic jams at the existing launch sites; eliminates the need for costly, fixed ground infrastructure; and makes the system more resilient to unfavorable weather conditions,” the company said in an emailed press release.

Here’s what the new system looks like.