Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy, assets sold to Rocket Lab, Stratolaunch, and Vast/Launcher
- Buyer
- Launcher Space
- Buyer
- Rocket Lab
- Buyer
- Stratolaunch
- Dissolved organization
- Virgin Orbit
Event context
Virgin Orbit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 4, 2023 after failing to secure funding and laying off nearly its entire workforce. In a May 23, 2023 bankruptcy auction (~$36M total), assets were sold to Rocket Lab ($16.1M, Long Beach HQ), Stratolaunch ($17M, the "Cosmic Girl" 747), and Vast's Launcher subsidiary ($2.7M, Mojave facility/equipment); the company then ceased operations with no single successor.