Stock-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) launch	Sep. 02, 2021 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 17, 2021 USD ($) shares	Nov. 20, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) stock installment $ / shares shares	Dec. 28, 2021 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock reserved for future issuance | shares							50,237,986
Options, grant date fair value		$ 4.2
Granted (in shares) | shares		1,132,290
2021 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock reserved for future issuance | shares						39,761,861
Unrecognized compensation expense for option awards	$ 0.0					$ 1.7
2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense for option awards	$ 1.7					$ 13.3
Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expiration period						10 years
Award vesting period						4 years
Award vesting rights, percentage						25.00%
Options | Tranche Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period						3 years
Award vesting rights, quarterly vesting percentage						75.00%
Options | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, grant date fair value				$ 2.5	$ 2.1	$ 1.6
Granted (in shares) | shares				845,317	757,978
Vesting period after termination of employment (in months)						24 months
Options | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer | Tranche One
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	50.00%		50.00%			25.00%
Options | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer | Tranche Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, quarterly vesting percentage						75.00%
Number of successful launches in calendar year to trigger second tranche of vesting | launch	5
Award vesting rights, percentage	33.30%
Options | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer | Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche Two, Option One
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, number of equal installments | installment						6
Award vesting rights, installment period (in months)						6 months
Options | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer | Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche Two, Option Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, number of equal installments | installment						12
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option, Supplemental Milestone Award | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer | Tranche Two
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage						66.70%
Virgin Orbit restricted stock units outstanding
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense for option awards						$ 9.5
Weighted average remaining vesting period						1 year 7 months 6 days
Award vesting period						2 years
Award vesting rights, percentage						25.00%
Virgin Orbit restricted stock units outstanding | Board Of Directors
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, grant date fair value						$ 0.2
Granted (in shares) | shares						16,218
Grant fair values (in dollar per share) | $ / shares						$ 9.25
Conversion basis | stock						1
Virgin Orbit restricted stock units outstanding | Tranche One | Board Of Directors
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period						3 years
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option, Milestone Award | CEO Awards | Chief Executive Officer | Tranche One
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage			50.00%