Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Credit: Virgin Galactic

The performance of Virgin Galactic’s air-launched system, LauncherOne, is to be “significantly” increased – nearly doubling the amount of payload customers can deliver to orbit for the same price.

For a price below $10 million, LauncherOne will now be able to launch 440 pounds (200 kilograms) into the standard Sun-Synchronous Orbit most commonly desired by small satellite missions.

That’s the word today at the yearly World Business Satellite Week in Paris, France.

Add to air launch fleet

Customers will also be able to purchase further increases in performance to the same orbit, as well as launches that reach other altitudes or inclinations. To lower Earth orbits the system will be capable of launching over 800 pounds (400 kilograms) of payload.

According to a press statement, Virgin Galactic is in the final stages of acquiring a commercial aircraft to add to its air launch fleet, which includes WhiteKnightTwo. Doing so enables both the increased payload capacity and significantly higher flight rate.

Eye on the small satellite market.
Credit: Virgin Galactic

The company expects to finalize this aircraft acquisition in the coming months.

SmallSat market

With full, private funding already committed to the program, the company said today that LauncherOne “remains on target” to be the most flexible and responsive launch vehicle to offer affordable, dedicated launches to smaller satellites.

“LauncherOne will be ready to meet the rapidly expanding needs of satellite startups, space agencies, and research institutions thanks to the investments we’ve already made in our engines, tanks, avionics, and our production infrastructure,” said George T. Whitesides, Virgin Galactic’s CEO.

LauncherOne’s customer base includes firms such as global communications company OneWeb. Virgin Galactic recently signed up with OneWeb to one of the largest commercial launch orders in history for flights of its internet service satellites on LauncherOne.