Virgin Orbit blames 'dislodged filter' for January launch failure

Virgin Orbit Holdings

19/04/2023 14:37

April 19 (Reuters) - Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc  VORB.O 
on Wednesday blamed a dislodged filter for its failed rocket
launch in January and said it was planning a flight later this
year as the issue has been fixed.
    The satellite launch company, founded by billionaire Richard
Branson, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this
month as it struggled to secure long-term funding following the
failed launch.
    The January mission using Virgin Orbit's centerpiece
LauncherOne rocket, the first rocket launch out of Britain,
failed to reach orbit and sent its payload of commercial and
defense-related research satellites plunging into the ocean.
    "Ground test results matched flight data, confirming the
dislodging of the filter as the initiation event of the January
launch failure," Virgin Orbit said on Wednesday.
    The company added that a series of nine tests verified the
performance of a redesigned filter and its next rocket was
planned for a flight from Mojave Air and Space Port in
California later this year.

 (Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak
Dasgupta)
 ((tiyashi.datta@thomsonreuters.com))