Virgin Orbit rebrands government companies; Mark Baird quoted

Small satellite launch company pristine orbit changed the name of its American subsidiary Vox Space to National systems in virgin orbit to highlight the company’s presence in the national security space market.

The renamed subsidiary also welcomed Craig Cooning, former executive of Boeing (NYSE:BA) and one 2015 Wash100 inductee, as a member of the unit’s board of directors, Virgin Orbit said Thursday.

Cooning served as President of Boeing’s Space Networks and Systems Business from July 2014 to September 2016 and served as Chairman of the Board of United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).

Virgin Orbit established its government-focused business in 2017 and has deployed national security payloads to space via three flights to date.

“By aligning the brand under which we serve our national security customers even more closely with the rest of Virgin Orbit’s established market presence, we demonstrate our laser-like focus on supporting our space mission partners’ readiness for national security,” said Mark Baird, President. Virgin Orbit domestic systems.