A Virgin Orbit rocket completed a US Department of Defense mission Friday night by launching a series of satellites.
Satellites were launched from Boeing 747 . private jet Flying off the coast of Southern California.
The giant modified aircraft took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in the Mojave Desert and launched the missile over the Pacific Ocean.
It was a mission organized by the US Space Force for Defense Department test program.
The seven satellites will perform different experiments.
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Virgin Orbit was founded in 2017 by British billionaire Richard Branson. It is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and is currently conducting launches from Mojave Airport but plans international missions.
This was Virgin Orbit’s fourth commercial launch and first night launch.
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The launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday night, but a fuel temperature problem caused a delay.
The mission was named “straight” after hit Paula Abdul which was released by Virgin Records in 1988.
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The company plans to launch two satellites on a mission from Cornwall, England, later this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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