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... and that's a wrap! Just after midnight Pacific on Saturday, July 2, we launched into Independence Day weekend by successfully completing our fourth mission to orbit. Straight Up carried seven satellites to Low Earth Orbit for the United States Space Force (USSF), who procured this launch for the Rocket Systems Launch Program, with payloads provided by the Department of Defense Space Test Program (STP). In support of our mission partners, Virgin Orbit has now delivered a total of thirty-three satellites to their target orbit with 100% mission success.
Our fully-mobile LauncherOne system conducted its first-ever evening flight from a bare concrete pad at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The launch initiated at 10:50 p.m. local time, Friday, July 1, and concluded a couple of hours later with the successful deployment of all seven payloads at approximately 12:55 a.m. Pacific on the morning of July 2 -- our first, but not last, nighttime demonstration of our responsive space launch capabilities.
Adding much to the excitement, popstar sensation Paula Abdul, whose song, Straight Up, inspired our mission name, visited us at the Mojave Air and Space Port ahead of the launch. She met with the team and got a special tour of the facility. Yes, she's forever our girl.
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