Virgin Orbit, the US-based small satellite launch company, has announced a partnership with Oita Prefecture to bring its air launches to Japan.

The company’s LauncherOne rockets – designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California – will be air-launched from a modified 747-400 carrier aircraft, allowing it to operate from a range of locations. According to Virgin Orbit, its systems are “currently in an advanced stage of testing, with initial orbital launches expected soon”.

Supporting the venture in Japan are regional partners ANA Holdings and the Space Port Japan Association.

Virgin Orbit has identified Oita Airport as its preferred Asian pilot launch site (pictured). The company’s Cosmic Girl, with a LauncherOne, is pictured below.

Flexibility

“As the global use of smaller satellites and related launch activities are expected to ramp up rapidly in the coming years, a flexible domestic launch capability becomes a crucial factor. It’s a key element in ensuring the availability and responsiveness of launch — a core enabler for the growing space economy,” said Dan Hart, CEO for Virgin Orbit.

“As Japan looks to establish a regional launch hub for Asia, we’re very excited to work alongside Oita to enable launch operations for space ventures, stimulate the local economy, and facilitate the growth of Japan’s broader space ecosystem.”

Horizontal takeoff

Why this southernmost part of Japan, on the island of Kyushu? The city is apparently becoming a hub for steel, petrochemical, semiconductor, and automobile industries.

“We are eager to host the first horizontal takeoff and landing spaceport in Japan. We are also honored to be able to collaborate with brave technology companies solving global-level problems through their small satellites,” said Katsusada Hirose, Governor for the Oita Prefectural Government.

“We hope to foster a cluster of space industry in our prefecture, starting with our collaboration with Virgin Orbit.”

The Japan site is another addition to the company’s global network of horizontal launch sites.

Virgin Orbit is in pursuit of a mission to space from as early as 2022.

Spaceport Cornwall

Oita joins Cornall in  the company’s network of global launch sites.

The U.K. Space Agency (UKSA) announced back in November 2019 that it would award £7.35 million ($9.5 million) in grant funding to Virgin Orbit U.K. Limited, the U.K. branch of Sir Richard Branson’s company. This was to enable the horizontal launch of small satellites from Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

Spaceport Cornwall is described as the UK’s horizontal launch site at Cornwall Airport Newquay, providing “capable and safe access to space by 2021”. The plan is to fully integrate civilian airline services with space launch, and support the entire UK satellite industry by providing a sovereign launch capability with Virgin Orbit and Goonhilly Earth Station.

The project is funded by Cornwall Council and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. More information can be found at spaceportcornwall.com.