The Story of Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl's Visit to Chennault International
On August 5th, 2020, Virgin Galactic’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft, known as “Cosmic Girl," took off from Runway one five at Chennault international airport in Louisiana. Cosmic Girl is a modified Boeing 747 that Virgin Orbit uses to launch its rockets into low earth orbit.
So why was “Cosmic Girl” visiting Chennault? In a statement from Virgin Orbit: “Cosmic Girl” has taken a jaunt down to Lake Charles, LA, again for some standard maintenance and inspection. After a year of flying with rockets underwing, the aircraft looked a bit grimy — so before anything else, we wanted to give it a well-deserved bath!” A Virgin Orbit respective said in an email.
Virgin Orbit is a spaceflight company within the Virgin Group, founded by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson in 2004. From the outside, she looks like a typical Boeing 747-400; However, she has a bit of a niche up her sleeve. Virgin Orbit designed a cradle to carry a 70-foot rocket at 34,000 feet. On a regular 747, Boeing designed a fifth engine attachment point under the left wing for ferrying engines. Thus, Cosmic Girl is the first use of a 747 as a space launch platform.
Cosmic Girl started life as a 747-41R and was completed in 2001 at the Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington. On 3 November 2005, the aircraft landed at Heathrow Airport when a crosswind caused it to roll to the left, and the No. 1 engine struck the ground. After the mishap, she was transferred to Virgin Orbit in 2015 and re-registered in the United States as N744VG. She was then moved to Long Beach Airport and fitted with an unusual cradle under her left wing.
“Cosmic Girl” maintenance visit allowed local aviation enthusiasts to see this unique aircraft in flight. Lake Charles locals and visitors could view the jumbo jet as she taxied on the runway and took off for an after-service test flight. As a photographer, I took this rare visit to capture some images of Cosmic Girl during her stay in Lake Charles.
Virgin Orbit’s Cosmic Girl returns to Chennault after its airborne mission—once a passenger jet, now reborn as a rocket carrier bridging legacy aviation and future spaceflight. After cleaning and inspection, the modified 747 awaits its next launch cycle
Cosmic Girl on final to Chennault International Airport—this modified Boeing 747, once a commercial airliner, now serves as Virgin Orbit’s airborne launch platform, bridging legacy aviation and orbital innovation.
Virgin Orbit’s Cosmic Girl Boeing 747-400 viewed from the side—converted launch platform displays LauncherOne rocket mount beneath wing, photographed at Chennault International Airport in 2020
Cosmic Girl powers through a touch-and-go at Chennault International Airport—Virgin Orbit’s modified 747 surges forward with LauncherOne mount visible, showcasing the agility of airborne launch platform
Virgin Orbit’s Cosmic Girl Boeing 747-400 lands at Chennault International Airport on August 5, 2020—converted launch platform completes post-maintenance flight and cleaning, touching down with precision and LauncherOne mount visible.
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