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
Gulfstream banner
Atlas Air Worldwide orders 20 A350Fs

Aerospace

Atlas Air Worldwide orders 20 A350Fs

16 March 2026

Atlas Air Worldwide has placed a landmark firm order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters, which is the largest ever placed for the A350F and makes Atlas the biggest customer of the type.

Astra Group completes delivery of Manchester Airport wayfinding contract

Aerospace

Astra Group completes delivery of Manchester Airport wayfinding contract

13 March 2026

Manchester based provider of traditional and digital signage solutions, Astra Group, has completed on a seven-figure wayfinding contract for Manchester Airport.

AirportsUK urges government to help increase competitiveness

Aerospace

AirportsUK urges government to help increase competitiveness

12 March 2026

At last night's AirportsUK Annual Dinner, senior aviation executives and politicians were given an insight into the size of the prize if government worked with the sector to increase competitiveness.

UK-first achieved in advanced materials

Aerospace Defence Space

UK-first achieved in advanced materials

11 March 2026

The UK has established its first sovereign manufacturing capability for ultrahigh temperature materials - vital for space, hypersonic and propulsion systems.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Smith Myers and HAT.tec integrate ARTEMIS with SCALE

Aerospace Security

Smith Myers and HAT.tec integrate ARTEMIS with SCALE

11 March 2026

Smith Myers Communications and HAT.tec have announced the integration of the ARTEMIS Mobile Phone Detection and Location System (MPDLS) with the HAT.tec mission management system SCALE across the helicopter fleet of a major European law enforcement agency.

BBGA hosts annual conference and AGM at 50

Aerospace

BBGA hosts annual conference and AGM at 50

11 March 2026

The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) will host its annual conference and AGM on 12th March in London, 50 years on from the formation of its antecedent, the General Aviation Manufacturers’ and Traders’ Association (GAMTA).

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner