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Virgin Galactic has announced that a 747-400 commercial airliner, dubbed 'Catholic Daughter' and formerly used past Virgin Atlantic, will bring together the company's LauncherOne satellite launch service. The 747 volition serve as a launch platform for the LauncherOne orbital vehicle, taking over from WhiteKnightTwo, and was selected for its big rocket carrying chapters, wide availability of parts, long range, and ability to fly in all kinds of weather. Plus, you lot can fly a 747 out of thousands of runways.

"The Boeing 747 has a very special place in my heart: nosotros began service on my first airline, Virgin Atlantic, with just one leased 747," said Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic founder, in a statement. "I never imagined that today one of our 747s would get a 2nd chance and assistance open access to infinite. I'm absolutely thrilled that Cosmic Girl tin can stay in the Virgin family — and truly live up to her proper name!"

The company will mount the LauncherOne rocket to the 747 under the left wing, where another 747s accept carried a fifth engine. The company doubled its payload capacity to 440 pounds, and can deliver satellites into Sun-synchronous orbit for "a price below $x one thousand thousand," with the power to buy launches to other altitudes or inclinations at up to 880 pounds. Space enthusiasts volition remember the 747 served as a test flying vehicle for the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft program, Pratt and Whitney'south flying testbed, and the X-45 Phantom Ray.

"Air launch enables us to provide rapid, responsive service to our satellite customers on a schedule ready by their business and operational needs, rather than the constraints of national launch ranges," said George Whitesides, Virgin Galactic CEO. "Selecting the 747 airframe provides a dedicated platform that gives the states the capacity to essentially increase our payload to orbit without increasing our prices."

WhiteKnightTwo, Virgin Galactic'south carrier aircraft, will continue to function as mothership for SpaceShipTwo for suborbital flight service out of Spaceport America in New United mexican states.

Branson's announcement marks the first time we've seen something new from Virgin Galactic since the tragic SpaceShipTwo crash in 2022 that killed ane of the pilots and injured the other; hither's hoping all systems are go once again for the company.