Virgin Orbit’s rocket flies strapped to the wing of an airplane for the first time

Launch provider Virgin Orbit, the spinoff of Richard Branson’s space tourism venture Virgin Galactic, put its new rocket in the air for the first time this weekend — though the vehicle didn’t go to space. On Sunday, the company performed its first captive-carry test flight with the rocket, keeping it firmly attached to the wing of its carrier airplane. The rocket’s engine didn’t ignite, but the flight clears the way for the very first test launch of Virgin Orbit&rs