How the Virgin Orbit mission ended in failure

1 10.02pm, 9 January

Cosmic Girl takes off from Space-

port Cornwall with the LauncherOne rocket and a payload of nine satellites beneath its wing

2 10.55pm

Cosmic Girl reaches the dropzone above the Atlantic Ocean, south of Ireland

LauncherOne

Cosmic Girl

Thousand feet

Satellites enclosed

within fairings

(rocket shell)

400

4

First stage

separation

First

stage

Interstage

Second stage

with payload

200

2

1

Spaceport

Cornwall

3

0

10.02pm

11.12pm

11.13pm

11.46pm

3 11.12pm

LauncherOne released at 35,000ft and the rocket engine ignites and gains altitude. Cosmic Girl banks away

4 11.46pm

A technical failure is reported. The rocket is slowed down by a possible fairing separation fault

5 12.07am

Cosmic Girl returns safely to Spaceport Cornwall. The location of rocket and satellites is unknown

3 11.12pm

LauncherOne released at 35,000ft and the rocket engine ignites and gains altitude. Cosmic Girl banks away

1 10.02pm,

9 January

Cosmic Girl takes off from Space-

port Cornwall with the LauncherOne rocket and a payload of nine satellites beneath its wing

2 10.55pm

Cosmic Girl reaches the dropzone above the Atlantic Ocean, south of Ireland

4 11.46pm

A technical failure is reported. The rocket is slowed down by a possible fairing separation fault

5 12.07am

Cosmic Girl returns safely to Spaceport Cornwall. The location of rocket and satellites is unknown

Thousand feet

400

4

Satellites enclosed

within fairings

(rocket shell)

Second

stage ignited

LauncherOne

First stage

separation

Cosmic Girl

First

stage

Interstage

Second stage

with payload

200

3

2

1

0

Spaceport

Cornwall

10.02pm

10.55pm

11.12pm

11.13pm

11.46pm