Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl – in pictures

The National
  • The Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl – a modified Boeing plane carrying a LauncherOne rocket under its wing – is prepared for launch at Mojave Air and Space Port, California in 2021. All photos: AFP
    The Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl – a modified Boeing plane carrying a LauncherOne rocket under its wing – is prepared for launch at Mojave Air and Space Port, California in 2021. All photos: AFP
  • A photographer takes pictures of Cosmic Girl as it takes off from Mojave
    A photographer takes pictures of Cosmic Girl as it takes off from Mojave
  • The LauncherOne rocket, which will release from the wing of the Boeing 747 before ignition, contains small research satellites for Nasa's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites 20 mission
    The LauncherOne rocket, which will release from the wing of the Boeing 747 before ignition, contains small research satellites for Nasa's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites 20 mission
  • A shot of the Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl from below
    A shot of the Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl from below
  • Cosmic Girl releases a rocket in mid-air when the plane reaches a target altitude
    Cosmic Girl releases a rocket in mid-air when the plane reaches a target altitude
  • The aircraft returns to the runway and the rocket carries the satellite payloads into low-Earth orbit
    The aircraft returns to the runway and the rocket carries the satellite payloads into low-Earth orbit