Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • One More Orbit team take on Pole to Pole World Circumnavigation Speed Record

Aerospace

One More Orbit team take on Pole to Pole World Circumnavigation Speed Record

To mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing and the 500th anniversary first global circumnavigation, Action Aviation Chairman Hamish Harding and Astronaut Terry Virts, will attempt to beat the world record for any aircraft flying over the North and South poles from 9th to 11th July 2019, supported by the One More Orbit team.


Courtesy Action Aviation

Flying a Qatar Executive Gulfstream G650ER aircraft, they will off-set their emissions by going carbon negative with the help of sponsor, Carbon Underground.
 
Who
Capt. Hamish Harding - United Kingdom, Action Aviation chairman, mission director and one of the 4 G650ER pilots; Col. Terry Virts - United States, Former International Space Station commander, Space Shuttle astronaut, Soyuz astronaut and US Air Force test pilot; Capt. Jacob Ove Bech - Denmark, Pilot; Capt. Jeremy Ascough - South Africa, Pilot; Capt. Yevgen Vasilienko - Ukraine, Pilot; Magdalena Starowicz - Poland, Flight Attendant; Col. Genaddy Padalka - Russia, Cosmonaut (International Space Station commander, Mir and Soyuz cosmonaut, record holder for the most days in space by any human - 879 days); Capt. Ian Cameron - United Kingdom, Director of the Mission Control Centre.

Advertisement
ODU RT

 
When
The One More Orbit mission launches at 09:32 on 9th July – the same time as the historic Apollo 11 flight.
 
Where
The team will launch will launch from and return to Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility (the former Shuttle Landing Facility) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, from where Apollo 11 launched its historic mission 50 years ago. They will do high speed, adrenaline pumping  “pit stops” to refuel in Kazakhstan, Mauritius and Chile.
 
Why
The mission, titled One More Orbit, pays tribute to the Apollo 11 moon landing achievement, by highlighting how humans push the boundaries of aeronautics. The record is being attempted during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Apollo 11 moon landing and the 500th anniversary of man first circling the planet. It is a tribute to the past, present, and future of space exploration.
 
Advertisement
PTC rectangle

The Aircraft
The fastest ultra-long-range business jet in the world, the Gulfstream G650ER is capable of reaching Mach 0.925 and sustaining a comfortable Mach 0.90. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR725 A1-12 Turbofans, generating 16,900 lbs of thrust, the extended range variant is capable of flying 7,500 nautical  miles (13,900 km) at up to 51,000 feet altitude. The Qatar Executive G650ER aircraft can easily fly non-stop from the Middle East to North America, or from destinations in Asia to Africa. It flies further, faster than any other jet of its kind – perfectly suited for the long legs of One More Orbit.
 
Going Carbon Negative
“The Carbon Underground is proud to be a partner of this historic mission,” said Larry Kopald, the company’s co-founder and president. “By calling attntion to one of humankind’s greatest efforts we remind ourselves of what we are capable of doing. Alleviating the existential threat of climate change by restoring the carbon balance and cycle will take a similar effort, with a similar commitment to speed.”
 
Sponsoring the mission are: Satcom Direct and inmarsat, which are providing the satellite bandwidth and live feed from the aircraft; G-Technology hard drives; Action Aviation leadership logistics; LiveU encoder; and Space Florida. Carbon Underground brings the means to make this mission carbon negative.
 
 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
Global aircraft deliveries in 2025 highest in seven years

Aerospace

Global aircraft deliveries in 2025 highest in seven years

3 February 2026

More aircraft were delivered in 2025 than in the previous seven years prior, with 25% more aircraft delivered in 2025 than in 2024 – at 1,411 compared with 1,128 the previous year – according to ADS, the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

ABT sets framework for OEM battery development

Aerospace Defence Security

ABT sets framework for OEM battery development

2 February 2026

UK battery pack manufacturer Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT), has set out a clearer framework for how OEMs can approach battery development.

AGS secures £745m refinancing package

Aerospace

AGS secures £745m refinancing package

2 February 2026

AGS Airports (AGS) - which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports and collectively handles over 11 million passengers annually - has completed a £745 million refinancing package, with support from Allied Irish Bank (AIB).

Helen Hardy appointed CEO of CILT (UK)

Aerospace

Helen Hardy appointed CEO of CILT (UK)

2 February 2026

The Board of Trustees of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Helen Hardy as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following a successful seven-month period as Interim CEO.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
Report exposes airports’ long term investment and financial viability challenge

Aerospace

Report exposes airports’ long term investment and financial viability challenge

2 February 2026

ACI EUROPE recently released a landmark report on the future viability of the airport industry, based on research conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG): 'Decoupling Financial Viability from Volume Growth: Charting the Way Forward for Europe’s Airports'.

Cranfield recognised with Gold Employer Recognition Award

Aerospace Defence

Cranfield recognised with Gold Employer Recognition Award

30 January 2026

Cranfield University has successfully revalidated its prestigious Gold Employer Recognition Scheme status, awarded by the Ministry of Defence to organisations that support the Armed Forces community and share the values in the Armed Forces Covenant.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
Advertisement
ECS leaderboard banner