Rocket Lab will acquire part of Virgin Orbit’s assets

US-New Zealand firm Rocket Lab, which operates one of the few operating space launchers in the world, announced on Tuesday the acquisition of part of the assets of bankrupt rival Virgin Orbit.

The auction was won for $16.1 million (14.5 million francs). Rocket Lab’s bid, which is currently being finalized, aims to buy from a subsidiary of British billionaire Richard Branson’s empire from its headquarters in Long Beach, California,” as well as some production,” he said. Rocket Lab in a statement released Tuesday.

Its offer does not include Virgin Orbit launchers or the equipment needed to launch them, notably the Boeing 747 to which the mini-missiles are attached to shoot them down in flight.

This process should enable Rocket Lab to more quickly produce its future Neutron launcher, a missile comparable to Russia’s Soyuz missile and far more powerful than the Electron, its current miniature launcher.

Electron, which has carried out 35 launches since 2018 from sites in New Zealand and the United States, can put 300 kilograms into low orbit, compared to 13 tons for Neutron scheduled for launch in 2024.

“This transaction represents a capital expenditure opportunity to increase our production capacity and bring the neutron quickly to the launch pad,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said in the statement.

The fusée of 21 meters of Virgin Orbit, large début January depuis le Boeing 747 au large des Cornouailles (Royaume-Uni), no pas atteint its orbite, provoquant the perte des neuf satellites qu’elle transportait and precipitant the chute of the l ‘a company.

Created by Richard Branson in 2017, this subsidiary has previously successfully put 33 satellites into orbit.

/ ATS