A Virgin Orbit satellite-launching rocket reached space Monday night, but couldn’t achieve the satellite’s final orbit after experiencing an anomaly in its second stage.
The LauncherOne rocket system was released from a custom Boeing 747, “Cosmic Girl”, in the first satellite flight out of the newly built Spaceport Cornwall in Britain. After its release, the rocket ignited the engines, achieved hypersonic speed, breached the atmosphere and reached space.
The first stage of the rocket separated, starting the second stage of the launch. However, while traveling at over 11,000 mph, the system experienced an anomaly, aborting the flight prematurely.