Virgin Orbit resumes operations with limited team amid funding search

Virgin Orbit has resumed operations with a small set of employees after a week-long furlough, while most employees will remain on furlough until at least March 27. The company is seeking new funding to remain solvent after the Jan. 9 failure of its LauncherOne rocket on the company’s first mission from the United Kingdom. The investigation into the failure is nearly complete, and the rocket is in the final stages of integration and test. Virgin Orbit is reportedly in talks with venture fund Matthew Brown Companies to raise up to $200 million through a private share placement.