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New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

abc.net.au

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Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#21

Post by Symmetry »

JshWright wrote: post #6
marktangotango wrote: post #5

Though the launch was only a test, Rocket Lab managed to launch three satellites into orbit for tracking shipping, weather and imaging. Orbital class rocket, not bad. Also, made it to orbit on the second attempt, beat Spacex by two launches :P The Rutherford engine sea level Isp of 303 on RP1/LOX is damn impressive.

Isp is awesome, TWR... not so much. The electric turbopumps are a big propellant efficiency win, but aren't without other costs.

I'd mostly worry about mass ratio, though they do drop off some of the batteries half way on the second stage.

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#22

Post by boznz »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

I'm sure it will get plenty of coverage here tonight. I think the news channels are over the PM getting pregnant and there are no rugby matches on :-)

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#23

Post by tlb »

Symmetry wrote: post #21
JshWright wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isp is awesome, TWR... not so much. The electric turbopumps are a big propellant efficiency win, but aren't without other costs.

I'd mostly worry about mass ratio, though they do drop off some of the batteries half way on the second stage.

Batteries are heavy, but the system can make up for it. More precise control of propellant volume means the combustion chamber and nozzle don't have to be engineered for such high peak stresses due to a turbopump surging.

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#24

Post by adventured »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

Isn't Rocket Lab a US start-up, funded almost entirely by US money, operated by US executives, with headquarters in Huntington Beach CA and a New Zealand subsidiary?

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#25

Post by erdle »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

If you're curious about the PR machine associated with SpaceX... see Tesla's stock price and news versus the very real and known issues with their debt/liabilities and production.

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#26

Post by ioquatix »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

> New Zealand isn't capable of putting nuclear warheads on top of one

I'm pretty sure we could if we actually wanted to. But we have a staunch anti-Nuclear policy :)

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#27

Post by syedkarim »

adventured wrote: post #24
toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

Isn't Rocket Lab a US start-up, funded almost entirely by US money, operated by US executives, with headquarters in Huntington Beach CA and a New Zealand subsidiary?

American money paying for New Zealand operations.

Source: Me; I was almost a customer.

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#28

Post by hyperpallium »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

reusability; spaceships landing upright like they were always supposed to; mars

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#29

Post by apcragg »

inamberclad wrote: post #19
bmiranda wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's worth mentioning that while electric turbopumps are a lot better that pressure-fed designs, for larger engines they aren't as effective as using pre-burners (due to the weight of the batteries). It does make the design much simpler, though.

The weight is an issue here too. It's something like 200kg of battery in the first stage. The second stage is designed to use its batteries one by one, and them drop them as they're expended.

That seems... Really bad for the environment? Nobody said launching rockets was environmentally friendly but that sounds particularly egregious.

Re: New Zealand startup successfully launches rocket

#30

Post by mikeash »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #8

It's interesting seeing the difference between the publicity that SpaceX gets, and the publicity of other rocket companies like RocketLab get. It shows how effective the PR machine for SpaceX is. RocketLabs launch is pretty significant, considering it's the first orbital launch of a rocket designed and built in a small nation. This has barely hit the news. I guess part of the reason is that it's not in the USA, and t…

You don’t generally make the news for doing things others have done before you. Don’t get me wrong, this company is cool and their success is super exciting, but I see no reason for them to get any press coverage outside of specialty media.

SpaceX was pretty quiet too when they were first starting out, and when they’re all over the news now it’s generally because they’re doing something new.

I doubt nukes have anything to do with it. The Falcon 9 would be an atrociously bad ICBM.

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