Blog > Flight Tracking News > Special Aircraft Tracking > Virgin Orbit 747 ‘Cosmic Girl’ performs first captive carry test of ‘LauncherOne’ rocket

Virgin Orbit 747 ‘Cosmic Girl’ performs first captive carry test of ‘LauncherOne’ rocket

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Ian Petchenik

Updated: December 1, 2022

On 18 November, Virgin Orbit completed its first captive carry test of its 21.4 meter ‘LauncherOne’ rocket using its specially modified 747-400 ‘Cosmic Girl’ (N744VG). The 1 hour 19 minute flight out of Victorville took the 747 and rocket up to a max altitude of 16,000 feet.

Follow the Virgin Orbit 747

You can follow the Virgin Orbit 747 ‘Cosmic Girl’ with registration N744VG. You can replay the the LauncherOne captive carry flight here, and see photos and video from yesterday’s flight below.

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All images courtesy Virgin Orbit

Published: November 19, 2018

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Ian Petchenik

Ian Petchenik’s love of aviation began at an early age growing up next to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. As Flightradar24’s director of communications and co-host of the AvTalk podcast Ian now gets to share that passion for aviation with millions of Flightradar24 users and listeners around the world.

Ian Petchenik

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