Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit fails to send a rocket into space

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit has failed in its first test launch of a new rocket carried aloft by a Boeing 747 and released over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. The inaugural launch took place yesterday after it had to be postponed from Sunday afternoon. The mission had appeared to be going well until moments after the rocket was dropped from beneath the left wing of the jumbo jet dubbed Cosmic Girl. Advertisement Advertisement ‘We’ve confirmed a clean release from the aircraft. However, the mission terminated shortly into the flight. Cosmic Girl and our flight crew are safe...