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| Virgin presses 747 jumbos into space action | Virgin presses 747 jumbos into space action |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Sir Richard Branson is reassigning one of his old Virgin Atlantic 747-400 jumbos to the service of space. | Sir Richard Branson is reassigning one of his old Virgin Atlantic 747-400 jumbos to the service of space. |
| The jet will be the launch platform for the satellite rocket being developed by another of the entrepreneur's companies - Virgin Galactic. | The jet will be the launch platform for the satellite rocket being developed by another of the entrepreneur's companies - Virgin Galactic. |
| The 747 will carry this booster to high altitude where it will be released to ignite its engine and go into orbit. | The 747 will carry this booster to high altitude where it will be released to ignite its engine and go into orbit. |
| Jumbos have long played a role in space activity, most famously to transport Nasa's old shuttles across America. | Jumbos have long played a role in space activity, most famously to transport Nasa's old shuttles across America. |
| Virgin Galactic will be air-launching a tourist spaceplane from underneath a jet vehicle, and originally had planned for the satellite rocket to use the same platform. | Virgin Galactic will be air-launching a tourist spaceplane from underneath a jet vehicle, and originally had planned for the satellite rocket to use the same platform. |
| But the performance requirements of the booster have driven engineers to seek an alternative carrier. | But the performance requirements of the booster have driven engineers to seek an alternative carrier. |
| Earlier this year, they announced they would be increasing the payload capability of the forthcoming rocket after consultations with prospective customers - a jump from 120kg of satellite payload to 200kg, into a standard orbit. | Earlier this year, they announced they would be increasing the payload capability of the forthcoming rocket after consultations with prospective customers - a jump from 120kg of satellite payload to 200kg, into a standard orbit. |
| That meant stretching the tanks on the booster to accommodate more propellant, and, as a consequence, its mass and length had to increase. | That meant stretching the tanks on the booster to accommodate more propellant, and, as a consequence, its mass and length had to increase. |
| The old 747-400 jumbo can handle this. Coincidentally, it used to fly in its Virgin Atlantic livery under the nickname "Cosmic Girl". It will now get a new paint job in the Virgin Galactic colours. | The old 747-400 jumbo can handle this. Coincidentally, it used to fly in its Virgin Atlantic livery under the nickname "Cosmic Girl". It will now get a new paint job in the Virgin Galactic colours. |
| "The Boeing 747 has a very special place in my heart: we began service on my first airline, Virgin Atlantic, with just one leased 747," Sir Richard said in a statement. | "The Boeing 747 has a very special place in my heart: we began service on my first airline, Virgin Atlantic, with just one leased 747," Sir Richard said in a statement. |
| "I never imagined that today one of our 747s would get a second chance and help open access to space. I'm absolutely thrilled that Cosmic Girl can stay in the Virgin family - and truly live up to her name!" | "I never imagined that today one of our 747s would get a second chance and help open access to space. I'm absolutely thrilled that Cosmic Girl can stay in the Virgin family - and truly live up to her name!" |
| Virgin Galactic is calling its satellite booster LauncherOne. | Virgin Galactic is calling its satellite booster LauncherOne. |
| It intends to debut the liquid oxygen/kerosene rocket in 2016 or 2017, selling missions for under $10m. The company believes that with this price it can grab a major share of the market for launching small satellites. | It intends to debut the liquid oxygen/kerosene rocket in 2016 or 2017, selling missions for under $10m. The company believes that with this price it can grab a major share of the market for launching small satellites. |
| Already, it has done a deal with satellite telecommunications company OneWeb. This British Channel Islands-based outfit has ordered at least 39 LauncherOnes to orbit up to two spacecraft at a time. | Already, it has done a deal with satellite telecommunications company OneWeb. This British Channel Islands-based outfit has ordered at least 39 LauncherOnes to orbit up to two spacecraft at a time. |
| One of the advantages of an air-launch model for satellites is the freedom to base the carrier jet at many locations. It is not restricted to a fixed pad location. | |
| "Air launch enables us to provide rapid, responsive service to our satellite customers on a schedule set by their business and operational needs, rather than the constraints of national launch ranges," said George Whitesides, Virgin Galactic CEO. | "Air launch enables us to provide rapid, responsive service to our satellite customers on a schedule set 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 us the capacity to substantially increase our payload to orbit without increasing our prices." | "Selecting the 747 airframe provides a dedicated platform that gives us the capacity to substantially increase our payload to orbit without increasing our prices." |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |