24/7 Space News
ROCKET SCIENCE
Virgin Orbit to bring small staff back to work on Thursday
Virgin Orbit to bring small staff back to work on Thursday
by Clyde Hughes
Washington DC (UPI) Mar 22, 2021

Virgin Orbit, Richard Branson's satellite launcher service, is expected to return a small staff work on Thursday after suspending operations last week and putting its employees on unpaid furlough.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, Virgin Orbit Holdings said it would begin an "incremental resumption of its operations" that would include working on its next launch.

"Our first step will begin Thursday this week, when we plan to return a subset of our team to focus on critical areas of our next mission," CEO Dan Hart said. "We are looking forward to getting back to our mission and returning to orbit.

Hart added, however, that the company would extend its unpaid furlough and continue to pause operations for most of its 750 employees "through at least Monday," according to an email to employees reported by CNBC.

Hart said there was still a need "to conserve cash" as the company continues to work on moving forward.

"We've made some important progress this week, but there is still work to be done," Hart wrote.

The company has been reeling since its failure to deliver into orbit the first-ever satellite launched from British soil on Jan. 9.

The failed launch from Spaceport Cornwall based at Newquay Airport spoiled hopes that the country could become a global competitor in the lucrative satellite launch industry, which is currently dominated by private U.S. space companies.

"Any viable path for our operations will require us to successfully launch," Hart said.

The return appeared to be good news for its stocks, with Virgin Orbit shares jumping as much as 155% in premarket trading on Wednesday. The stock had lost 76% in 2023 so far, closing at 44 cents on Tuesday.

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
Benchmark Space Systems fires up metal plasma and bi-prop thruster production
Burlington VT (SPX) Mar 21, 2023
Laser focused on delivering mobility without compromise, Benchmark Space Systems has signed contracts for nearly two dozen new electric metal plasma thrusters (MPTs), with some set to play a key role in upcoming, unnamed in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) satellite docking demonstration missions. The bulk of Benchmark's first MPT orders will be delivered this year, signaling intensifying demand for hybrid propulsion capabilities aboard commercial and government missions in space ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
Russia's only female cosmonaut praises ISS mission

Virgin Orbit suspends operations, in wake of failed orbital launch

SpaceX cargo resupply mission CRS-27 scheduled for launch Tuesday

NASA SpaceX Crew-5 splashes down after 5-month mission

ROCKET SCIENCE
Firefly Aerospace completes risk reduction testing for critical Miranda engine

Certified and Ready for Rocket-Powered Flight

First 3D-printed rocket lifts off but fails to reach orbit

SpaceX launches its 20th mission of the year with launch of 56 Starlink satellites

ROCKET SCIENCE
Sols 3780-3782: Perfect 10

The race is on for Ingenuity and Perseverance to stay the distance

Spring Past the Marker Band: Sols 3776-3777

Geologists Love a Good Contact: Sols 3773-3775

ROCKET SCIENCE
China's Shenzhou-15 astronauts to return in June

China's space technology institute sees launches of 400 spacecraft

Shenzhou XV crew takes second spacewalk

China conducts ignition test in Mengtian space lab module

ROCKET SCIENCE
Sidus Space to power maritime solutions with AIS integration in LizzieSat

Proba-3 complete: Formation-flying satellites fully integrated

Inmarsat and RBC Signals complete live testing of dynamic spectrum leasing solution

TDGA secures New Media Holding as lead investor in $20M seed round for Space Media

ROCKET SCIENCE
Geo eye spy: first Eurostar Neo selfie from Eutelsat's HOTBIRD 13F satellite

ESA in miniature

Breaking the One Part-One Material Paradigm

Neuraspace introduces "Machine Learning Prediction Plots" for earlier debris planning

ROCKET SCIENCE
Small stars may host bigger planets than previously thought

Researchers detect silicate clouds, methane, water, carbon monoxide on distant planet

JWST confirms giant planet atmospheres vary widely

Planet hunting and the origins of life

ROCKET SCIENCE
Hubble monitors changing weather and seasons at Jupiter and Uranus

An explaination for unusual radar signatures in the outer solar system

New Horizons team discusses discoveries from the Kuiper Belt

New Horizons team adds AI to Kuiper Belt Object search

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.