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Virgin OrbitLauncherOneMojave Air and Space Port, Air launch to orbit

Tubular Bells, Part One

Launched

June 30, 2021

Launch Successful
Virgin Orbit Tubular Bells, Part One

Summary

Tubular Bells, Part One launched on a Virgin Orbit LauncherOne from Mojave Air and Space Port, Air launch to orbit on June 30, 2021. It was Virgin Orbit's 3rd launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 6,098th orbital launch attempt. It was the 3rd LauncherOne flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). MARTA, one of 8 catalogued objects, reached a 502 × 527 km orbit inclined 60.7°. 8 objects from this launch are catalogued, 7 of them payloads.

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Vehicle
LauncherOne · Virgin Orbit
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Dedicated Rideshare · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
3rd LauncherOne flight · 2nd this yearVirgin Orbit's 3rd launch2nd this yearhumanity's 6,098th orbital launch attempt61st orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

60.7°Inclination
502 × 527 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
94.8 minPeriodfrom mean elements
221.9°Ascending node
1933 d agoElement epoch2021-07-01 00:01 UTC · stale

MARTA · NORAD 48872 · 2021-058 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 8 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2021-058B
Epoch
2021-07-01 00:01:18 UTC
Mean motion
15.19512373 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0018196
Inclination
60.6923°
Ascending node
221.9237°
Arg. of perigee
263.6119°
Mean anomaly
170.2604°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
6
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

8 catalogued: 7 payloads, 1 rocket stage; none still in orbit

  • MARTA · NORAD 48872 · re-entered October 22, 2023
  • STORK 4 · NORAD 48873 · re-entered October 3, 2023
  • CNCE 3 · NORAD 48874 · re-entered October 31, 2023
  • CNCE 1 · NORAD 48875 · re-entered October 31, 2023
  • Brik-II · NORAD 48876 · re-entered November 12, 2025
  • Halo-NET Free Flyer · NORAD 48877 · re-entered November 25, 2023
  • Gunsmoke-J 4 · NORAD 48878 · re-entered March 30, 2024

LauncherOne R04 Stage 2 · re-entered August 25, 2023

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The mission includes three cubesats for US Department of Defense which are launched as a part of the DoS Space Test Program (STP); the Netherland's first military satellite, a cubesat called BRIK II; and two optical satellites, STORK-4 and STORK-5, for SatRevolution's STORK constellation. The mission name, "Tubular Bells, Part One", references the first music album released by Virgin Records label in the 1970s. The label was established by Virgin Orbit CEO Richard Branson.

Pad

Map of Mojave Air and Space Port

Mojave Air and Space Port, Air launch to orbit

3rd launch from Mojave Air and Space Port, 2nd this year · 48th from Air launch to orbit

5 launches from this pad · 52 from Air launch to orbit

163 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Air launch to orbitOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success confirmed

spacevogel · Jun 30, 2021 · source

Show 6 earlier updates

  • LauncherOne has separated from Cosmic Girl and ignited its first stage.

    Nosu · 6/30/2021 · source

  • Launch window 14:00-16:00 UTC based on takeoff time.

    Nosu · 6/30/2021 · source

  • NOTAMs issued.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/28/2021 · source

  • New launch date.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/24/2021 · source

  • Rolling back previous update as the notice might not be related.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/7/2021 · source

  • Added launch date per air space closure notices.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 6/5/2021 · source

Questions

When did Tubular Bells, Part One launch?

Tubular Bells, Part One launched on June 30, 2021. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Tubular Bells, Part One?

Coverage: LauncherOne Tubular Bells Part One. Watch the replay

What rocket launched Tubular Bells, Part One?

LauncherOne, flown by Virgin Orbit. LauncherOne spec sheet

Where did Tubular Bells, Part One launch from?

Mojave Air and Space Port, Air launch to orbit.

What orbit did Tubular Bells, Part One reach?

MARTA, one of 8 catalogued objects, reached a 502 × 527 km orbit inclined 60.7°.

How many satellites did Tubular Bells, Part One launch?

7 payloads from this launch are catalogued, none of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).