Virgin Orbit Formally Establishes New Brazilian Subsidiary and Receives Operator’s License for Launch Operations in Alcântara
June 27 2022 - 8:05AM
Business Wire
The subsidiary and license for launch operations are expected to
enable launches from Brazil to space as early as 2023. Operations
at Alcântara Space Center closely align with Virgin Orbit’s mission
to open space for everyone, from everywhere, as the locale is
geographically one of the most advantageous places in the world
from which to launch satellites into orbit.
Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) alongside the Brazilian Space Agency
(Agência Espacial Brasileira; AEB) is pleased to announce that
Virgin Orbit has been formally granted an operator’s license to
allow LauncherOne launch operations in Brazil. The license is
granted to Virgin Orbit Brasil Ltda. (VOBRA), a newly formed and
wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary dedicated to bringing the
LauncherOne air-launch rocket system to the Alcântara Launch Center
(Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara, CLA).
The formation of the VOBRA entity for dedicated Brazilian space
activities is designed to bring an important new capability to the
country and economic value to the region. Virgin Orbit’s
LauncherOne system, which uses a customized 747 aircraft, Cosmic
Girl, as its flying and fully reusable launch pad, will conduct
launches from the existing airbase at the Brazilian site, flying
hundreds of miles before releasing the rocket directly above the
equator — a global sweet spot — or at other optimal locations
identified for each individual mission.
Virgin Orbit’s launch system is expected to give Alcântara the
opportunity to become one of the only continental spaceports in the
world functionally capable of reaching any orbital inclination. All
of the equipment required for Virgin Orbit to conduct a launch to
orbit is fully transportable, from the rocket, to the ground assets
that prepare it for flight, as well as the aircraft itself. This
capability enables the team to securely transport the entire
system, conduct a launch campaign, and return to one of the
company’s other facilities without the need for any further
construction beyond the Brazilian airbase.
The Alcântara Launch Center has hosted several launches of
suborbital rockets, but the facility has not yet been used to reach
Earth orbit. By facilitating the introduction of that long-sought
capability to Alcântara, Virgin Orbit, AEB, and the Brazilian Air
Force (Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) hope to create a significant
new competency for the area.
Upon fulfilment of all formalities required by the FAB and
completion of all CLA guidelines, LauncherOne could potentially
conduct the first domestic orbital-class launch to Brazil as early
as 2023. “We are very excited to bring orbital launch capability to
Brazil,” said Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit. “Our small footprint
and unique mobile LauncherOne system allow us to work with the
country in accomplishing its first ever domestic launch to Earth
orbit, while accessing an array of orbital inclinations just two
degrees south of the equator, and without the need for new
permanent infrastructure. Leveraging the existing facilities at
Alcântara Space Center is important to us in our commitment to
sustainability and effort to open Space For Good. We’re keen on
working together to take on the upcoming possibilities.”
"Virgin Orbit is an outstanding space transport provider, very
suitable for prompt and dedicated small sat launches,” said Carlos
Moura, President of the Brazilian Space Agency. “We do believe
Virgin Orbit can improve its capacities by taking off from the
Alcantara Spaceport. Nice weather, wonderful airfield, free
airspace, and proficient tracking systems. Together, we can do much
more.”
About Virgin Orbit
Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) operates one of the most flexible
and responsive space launch systems ever built. Founded by Sir
Richard Branson in 2017, the company began commercial service in
2021, and has already delivered commercial, civil, national
security, and international satellites into orbit. Virgin Orbit’s
LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach,
California, and are air-launched from a modified 747-400 carrier
aircraft that allows Virgin Orbit to operate from locations all
over the world in order to best serve each customer’s needs. Learn
more at www.virginorbit.com and visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter
@virginorbit, and on Instagram @virgin.orbit.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including with
respect to the expected Brazilian space activities and launches.
These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the
words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,”
“intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,”
“should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely
result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
predictions, projections and other statements about future events
that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a
result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could
cause actual future events to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not
limited to the Company’s ability to access sources of capital; its
ability to grow market share in the developing space economy;
market acceptance of its current and planned products and services
and ability to achieve sufficient production volumes, as well as
the factors, risks and uncertainties included in the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2022,
as well as in the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Information section of the
Company’s website at www.virginorbit.com. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are
cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
and Virgin Orbit assumes no obligation and does not intend to
update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Virgin
Orbit gives no assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005163/en/
Linda Rivera Principal Communications Officer, Virgin Orbit
Linda.Rivera@virginorbit.com 323 316 6499
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