Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit has stated that it would cease operations months after rockets carrying the first satellites launched from the UK were lost.
According to CNBC, the company was established in 2017, and thousands of people gathered at Newquay Airport in January this year to cheer the Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 known as “Cosmic Girl” into the night sky.
At first, the mission seemed to be a success when the company declared the LauncherOne rocket had reached orbit, only to subsequently realize it had not.
Instead, its payload of espionage satellites from the US and the UK fell into the sea.
85% of Virgin Orbit’s personnel were laid off in March, and the company this month filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to secure new investments.
The company declared in a statement: “Our heritage in the space sector will always be remembered. The industry has been forever changed by its innovative technology, unrelenting pursuit of perfection, and unflinching dedication to pushing the boundaries of air launch.
“Virgin Orbit’s management and staff would like to express their sincere gratitude to all stakeholders, including customers, partners, investors, and workers, for their support and dedication over the years, as the company sets out on this journey.”
