News RocketLab News and Discussion Thread

[MaverickSawyer]

Since there doesn't seem to be a general thread for discussing RocketLab, I figured I would start it.

Leading off is this freshly uploaded video of how they're proposing to reuse the first stage of Electron. No propulsive landing, but instead, a mid-air snag of the booster with a helicopter as a long-line payload as it descends under a ram-air parafoil. Seems fairly reasonable, especially given the low weight of the stage.

 

[Sbb1413]

Re: RocketLab News and Discussion Thread...

Why they cannot use engines to land, like Falcon 9?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Why they cannot use engines to land, like Falcon 9?

Because that takes extra propellant, batteries for the turbopumps on their engines, guidance hardware, landing gear, etc. They said it would require turning a small launcher into a medium launcher just to have enough reserves for propulsive landing.

 

[Sbb1413]

Re: RocketLab News and Discussion Thread...

Can 1st stage of the Electron Block 2 survive re-entry without any engine firing?

 

[Urwumpe]

Can 1st stage of the Electron Block 2 survive re-entry without any engine firing?

Sure - why not? The first stage isn't really fast to start with and it has a very low density, which means it will have less heating because it already slows down a lot at higher altitudes.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Sure - why not? The first stage isn't really fast to start with and it has a very low density, which means it will have less heating because it already slows down a lot at higher altitudes.

They said that the fist stage weighs only a few hundred kilograms when dry... But it's a small diameter stage, so drag may be fairly low. Hard to say.

 

[mahdavi3d]

 

[Notebook]

Rocket Lab returns to service with “flawless” launch for U.S. military – Spaceflight Now

spaceflightnow.com

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches return-to-flight mission – Spaceflight Now

spaceflightnow.com

 

[GLS]

First time launching from the US in about 10 minutes

 

[GLS]

In orbit! Kick stage firing remaining.

 

[GLS]

Waiting for confirmation of engine burn and payload separation...
Meanwhile, Electron and Orion:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1618023997530333185

 

[GLS]

Engine burn and payload separation (finally) confirmed!

 

[Notebook]

Anomaly review of last launch failure.

Rocket Lab Sets Next Electron Launch Window, Provides Update on Anomaly Review | Rocket Lab

*Long Beach, California. November 8, 2023 - *Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has set a return to launch window for its Electron launch vehicle.

www.rocketlabusa.com