Virgin Galactic's "Cosmic Girl"

Virgin Galactic has chosen one of it's 747's, aptly named "Cosmic Girl", to carry the companies "Launcher One" small satellite delivery vehicle to higher altitude and drop launch. The 747 will carry the launch vehicle on the 5th engine mount just inside inner most port side engine. Virgin is expecting to be able to launch small sats into LEO for about $10 million, cheep for the satellite size it's hoping to launch.
According to Virgin, Galactic Girl, will become the dedicated launch platform for the LauncherOne, even through Virgin Galactic's WhitKnightTwo aircraft was originally planned to carry the launcher. Now the WhiteKnight will be the dedicated launch platform for the SpaceShip program.





Launcher One:



www.popsci.com...

Wow, lots of covert uses for that platform.

A civilian covert missile launcher. It can take off from anywhere, quick.

Can you imagine the '911 planes with missiles' crowd filming one of these?

a reply to: Sammamishman

The fifth engine mount really comes in handy. It freaks you out though when you see a five engine 747 moving around.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'll bet, make people do a double take and think they need to get their eyes checked for sure.

a reply to: Sammamishman

My father was waiting for a military plane to get to where he could escort it to parking, when a Qantas 747 with the fifth engine mounted went by. He counted the engines three or four times before calling Hickam Ground on the radio and asking how many engines it had.

originally posted by: Sammamishman
a reply to: Zaphod58

I'll bet, make people do a double take and think they need to get their eyes checked for sure.

Makes me thing of that German aircraft with two floors of windows in front of the wings and dozens of propellors above, below in front and behind the wings.

a reply to: Zaphod58

What about a four engine L-1011?

All they're doing is ferrying the engine from place to place, correct? It's not ever functional, from my understanding.

originally posted by: cmdrkeenkid
a reply to: Zaphod58


All they're doing is ferrying the engine from place to place, correct? It's not ever functional, from my understanding.

Yes, that's my understanding as well. I imagine it creates a hell of drag too.

Hey I didn't see it in the article but what altitude will they take the 747 to, to launch?


I still think the 747 is the most iconic of all commercial jets. She still may be old but she's still the queen in my heart. Every time I see one I get flashbacks and daydreams of travelling and going to some exotic destination.

Very cool to see that the 747 is like the B52. Sometimes you just get things right design wise.

a reply to: cmdrkeenkid

Yeah, it's to get engines to and from remote areas where shipping was either not possible or was prohibitive.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

The sweet spot should be up around 40-50,000 feet or so.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

The LaunchOne delivery vehicle is designed for an air launch at 35k ft so a piece of cake for the 747.

originally posted by: intrptr

Wow, lots of covert uses for that platform.

A civilian covert missile launcher. It can take off from anywhere, quick.

Can you imagine the '911 planes with missiles' crowd filming one of these?

This is the same court of thought I was thinking. .. how covert and shady this is, under the avatar of "Virgin".

Military and spy applications, very covert in LEO. How many civilians daily take trips to LEO?

0.

This is shady # man.

a reply to: Elementalist

Why is this any different from any of the other modified commercial aircraft that can launch satellites? The technology has existed for years.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Psssstt! It's Branson and he's doing it for PROFIT.

a reply to: JIMC5499

what else would you have a commercial sat launch company for? the betterment of man kind? lol.....

maybe i should build me one of the little cube sats, they have kits now


ETA:

wasnt the F-14 launching ASAT weapons YEARS ago, other then being on a commercial jet i dont get why this is so groundbreaking

a reply to: penroc3
I'm with you, but, there's alot of people on here who think that if you are making a profit, you are evil.
It was the F-15 that had ASAT.

originally posted by: Elementalist

originally posted by: intrptr

Wow, lots of covert uses for that platform.

A civilian covert missile launcher. It can take off from anywhere, quick.

Can you imagine the '911 planes with missiles' crowd filming one of these?

This is the same court of thought I was thinking. .. how covert and shady this is, under the avatar of "Virgin".

Military and spy applications, very covert in LEO. How many civilians daily take trips to LEO?

0.

This is shady # man.

Yah, I get that 'one of a kind', 'happens all the time' thing, too. Main stream, cover(T) ops.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Elementalist

Why is this any different from any of the other modified commercial aircraft that can launch satellites? The technology has existed for years.

Your repose has no relation to what I said.

Never said anything about the age of tech, nor the difference between Virgin Galactic or any other organzaton.

Only point I'm making, is how such a platform would easily aide in governmental, military, and even espionage type applications.

a reply to: Elementalist

And there have been several of these aircraft already. Why is this one suddenly a concern? The government has had the ability to launch covertly for many years if they want to.