Virgin

Space launch company Virgin Orbit has been grounded for good after a US bankruptcy court broke it up and sold off its assets to bidders. The demise of the ambitious venture comes after a failed attempt to conduct its first mission in January.

Virgin Orbit is now one step closer to firing satellites into space using rockets launched from the wing of a 747 after successfully integrating its LauncherOne rocket into its Cosmic Girl mothership ahead of the first test flights.

​It was back in 2011 that we first heard how Virgin Atlantic Airways was planning to use an eco-friendly aviation fuel made from captured steel mill waste gases. A successful test flight followed in 2016, and the fuel has now been utilized in a commercial flight for the first time.

Virgin Orbit is edging ever closer to its goal of firing rockets into space from an airborne 747, with the pylons that will carry its two-stage orbital launch vehicle, LauncherOne, to altitude now firmly fixed to the wing of its Cosmic Girl Mothership.

Firing rockets from beneath the wings of an airborne 747 isn't the most conventional way to get satellites into space, but Virgin spinoff company Virgin Orbit has been awarded a license for its maiden attempt to do just that, with hopes of beginning commercial services before the year is out.

Together with the local government, Richard Branson's Virgin Hyperloop One has today announced plans to build a 25-minute Hyperloop connection between the Indian cities of Pune and Mumbai, which is currently a two-hour trip by car.

​A fully functional Hyperloop system remains years away, but that hasn't stopped one of the startups vying to build it bringing out an app for folks to book a ride. Virgin Hyperloop One has rolled up to this year's CES with a demo version of an app designed to handle the entire passenger experience.

Virgin Hyperloop One has set a new speed record at its Nevada test center. An unmanned test pod reached a speed of nearly 387 km/h (240 mph) while running through an evacuated cylinder depressurized to the equivalent air pressure at an altitude of 200,000 feet (37 mi, 61 km).

Thanks to Sir Richard Branson, Hyperloop One is now Virgin Hyperloop One. The rebranding was announced by the Virgin Group founder and CEO on his blog, in which he said that the change follows an undisclosed, but substantial investment by Virgin in the US-based transportation start up.

Virgin has launched a new TV and entertainment service to UK consumers through its Virgin Media arm. Virgin TV comprises a set-top box, a mobile app for anywhere-viewing, an HD tablet for viewing around the home, a kids app for TV, games and books and a new store for movies and box sets.

Five years ago, Virgin Atlantic teamed up with LanzaTech to develop a new jet fuel made from the waste gases of steel mills. Now the first 1,500 US gallons of the low-carbon jet fuel has been produced, passing performance tests and possibly ready for a proving flight by next year.

Perhaps the key to good long-haul aircraft cabin design is to make passengers forget that they're stuck in a long-haul aircraft cabin. Virgin Australia's new International Business Class cabin may help to do that, with queen-length beds, 18-in HD screens and and a bar at which to booze and schmooze.