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Richard's Blog

Around the world in 80 minutes

  • Richard Branson Virgin Galactic

Looking back on Virgin Galactic’s groundbreaking announcements this week - what a breathtaking few days.

It is incredible that satellites carried to space by the full-sized version of our new LauncherOne vehicle in the photo above will soon be travelling around the world in 80 minutes*!

LauncherOne can travel at 25 times the speed of sound (Mach 25) at 18,000mph, and will place the satellites in orbit after being released from WhiteKnightTwo at an altitude of 50,000 feet above mean sea level. It is simply mind-boggling.

This really will revolutionise the satellite industry by dramatically reducing costs and opening up access, while Virgin Galactic also push on with taking our first astronauts into space. They will be ready to fly Holly, Sam and yours truly into space next year!

*OK, the satellites LauncherOne places in orbit will travel around the world in about 90 minutes, but I thought around the world in 80 minutes sounded better!

By . Founder of Virgin Group

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