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Reply To: Possible visibility of Virgin Orbit launch from the UK on January 9th

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8 January 2023 at 2:36 pm #615035
Nick James
Participant

The ground track from the Virgin site shows the launcher crossing La Palma at around T+ 560s. The vehicle is in the Earth’s shadow but the second stage motor will still be burning at that point (SECO is around T+ 590s). It will be over 500km up when it crosses over LP. It might be visible coming up in your north but I have no idea how bright the exhaust plume would be at that range and you have a bright Moon to contend with as well.

Attachments:

  1. groundtrack.png