Virgin Orbit signs agreement with ANA to launch small satellites from Japan

Virgin Orbit has signed an agreement with ANA Holdings, parent company of Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA), to bring the company’s LauncherOne service to Japan. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) charts out a long-term partnership between ANA and Virgin Orbit, further strengthening ties between the US and Japan for co-operative, space activities. Under the terms of the agreement, ANA will evaluate the capabilities to provide aircraft and ground support equipment maintenance and potentially additional aircraft to support Virgin Orbit’s local launch operations, as well as logistics and transport services for Virgin Orbit’s broader launch operations across Asia. “Japan has long