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Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

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Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#91

Post by djsumdog »

curuinor wrote: post #61
peatmoss wrote: post #2

The years I spent in New Zealand painted a vivid picture of a society of doers. I think there’s something to the idea that this comes in part from being a landmass the size of Colorado, with not much more than 4 million people, with the freedom and requirements to maintain the infrastructure of being a sovereign nation. Seeing a NZ rocket launch condures an image of a small group of doers dreaming big. Way to go NZ!

Wait, isn't Rocket Lab an american company, and they're just locating the rocket in NZ? Founders were Kiwis but HQ is in California...

Most of them work out by the Auckland airport. A really good friend of mine works there as an engineer. He works some absolutely insane hours. I couldn't do it personally, but they all really believe in rockets and they've had some amazing success.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#92

Post by adventured »

wolf550e wrote: post #81
curuinor wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, isn't Rocket Lab an american company, and they're just locating the rocket in NZ? Founders were Kiwis but HQ is in California...

It's more of a New Zealand company with enough presence in the US to be legal for ITAR purposes.

How do you get to that? Their rockets are designed and manufactured in the US. Their money has largely been from the US. They're incorporated in the US. They're using US technology and engineering.

That's a long ways from the minimal contribution you're implying.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#93

Post by djsumdog »

unknown_apostle wrote: post #89
peatmoss wrote: post #2

The years I spent in New Zealand painted a vivid picture of a society of doers. I think there’s something to the idea that this comes in part from being a landmass the size of Colorado, with not much more than 4 million people, with the freedom and requirements to maintain the infrastructure of being a sovereign nation. Seeing a NZ rocket launch condures an image of a small group of doers dreaming big. Way to go NZ!

So why did you leave? (Asking because I have an opportunity to move there.)

You should totally do it, and go to Wellington. It's the best city :-P I lived there for three years and miss it. I might try to get another work visa, either to go back to Welly or Melbourne.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#94

Post by sgc »

jcims wrote: post #21
14 wrote: post #15

I am approaching my 40's and wonder am I just a bit too old that by the space flight is for the common person I will have missed my chance. I really hope I can make it to space one day.

I’m a little older, I’m banking my hopes on an option in 30 years. Just visited my grandpa yesterday for his 90th birthday, his body is slowing down but his mind is as sharp as ever. I’m not counting it out just yet.

I'm not convinced that they will allow the elderly to fly anyways. Too many Gs.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#95

Post by unknown_apostle »

djsumdog wrote: post #93
unknown_apostle wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So why did you leave? (Asking because I have an opportunity to move there.)

You should totally do it, and go to Wellington. It's the best city :-P I lived there for three years and miss it. I might try to get another work visa, either to go back to Welly or Melbourne.

So same question: why did you go away, or how did you loose your work visa?

For me it's a cool job in Auckland. What worries us is the distance and the logistics of bringing over our entire family... I can see myself working there, bringing over the family, and then loosing my job e.g. because of some recession and not find another job in the grace period.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#96

Post by scottlocklin »

tim333 wrote: post #48
calcifer wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Russian rockets use some nasty stuff Do you have a source for that? What sort of "stuff"?

Probably UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide or nitric acid referred to as Devil's Venom in Russia apparently https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_venom The same mix was what blew up in Damascus Titan missile explosion as told in the book Command and Control. Luckily the 9-megaton warhead didn't go off. I recommend the book Ignition if you are interested in these things (free pdf http://library.sciencemadness.org/library/…

That book is one of the best things ever.

" And if you, gentle reader, have never seen a nervous rocket mechanic, complete with monkey suit, being buzzed by nine thousand demented bats and trying to beat them off with a shovel, there is something missing from your experience."

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#97

Post by curtis »

I can't help but wonder if there are some interesting applications for electrically pumped rocket engines beyond just the small satellite market. For example, could you attach 3 or 4 Electron-derived boosters to an Atlas V first stage and use them to land it like a Falcon 9?

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#98

Post by power78 »

curtis wrote: post #97

I can't help but wonder if there are some interesting applications for electrically pumped rocket engines beyond just the small satellite market. For example, could you attach 3 or 4 Electron-derived boosters to an Atlas V first stage and use them to land it like a Falcon 9?

That would be a lot of extra launch weight just to return the first stage, not to mention the danger of having filled boosters on the rocket the whole launch.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#99

Post by wolf550e »

adventured wrote: post #92
wolf550e wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's more of a New Zealand company with enough presence in the US to be legal for ITAR purposes.

How do you get to that? Their rockets are designed and manufactured in the US. Their money has largely been from the US. They're incorporated in the US. They're using US technology and engineering. That's a long ways from the minimal contribution you're implying.

see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Lab

The manufacturing is in New Zealand. I don't know about design, but I understood that design is also done in New Zealand. They received money from the US and they cooperated with NASA, and for that they needed to have facilities in the US, but I don't know how much.

They now opened a second launch facility in the US, but that is not a large operation compared to design, manufacturing and testing the rockets.

Articles from the past make it sound like a New Zealand company with a corporate structure that is a legal fiction to be legal in the US.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&...

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/29/kiwi_company_rocket...

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#100

Post by walrus01 »

Kye wrote: post #80
SEJeff wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would you name that? space-west-1? Cardinal directions are sort of irrelevant.

A formula describing its path across the latitude/longitude graph.

Not saying it's a good idea but you can fit a two line element orbital data field into a hostname or DNS entry.
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