Some rocket eye candy for you today - Vector-R engineering/prototype composite fairing.
QuoteSome rocket eye candy for you today - Vector-R engineering/prototype composite fairing.https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/910656431514304512
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/21/2017 03:35 amQuoteSome rocket eye candy for you today - Vector-R engineering/prototype composite fairing.https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/910656431514304512Cool pictures. Shiny. Am I missing the part where it splits in half, or is that just the "prototype" factor?
Mass manufacturing rocket parts is part of plan to make & fly @vectorspacesys rockets by the 100's. Prototype nozzle in carbon fiber winding
QuoteMass manufacturing rocket parts is part of plan to make & fly @vectorspacesys rockets by the 100's. Prototype nozzle in carbon fiber windinghttps://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/916411874249338880
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/06/2017 09:49 pmQuoteMass manufacturing rocket parts is part of plan to make & fly @vectorspacesys rockets by the 100's. Prototype nozzle in carbon fiber windinghttps://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/916411874249338880Is it just me, or is it looking really wobbly there?
Quote from: Davidthefat on 10/07/2017 01:00 amQuote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/06/2017 09:49 pmQuoteMass manufacturing rocket parts is part of plan to make & fly @vectorspacesys rockets by the 100's. Prototype nozzle in carbon fiber windinghttps://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/916411874249338880Is it just me, or is it looking really wobbly there?Yeah, but it's probably fine for what they're doing.However, I don't understand the idea that they think they can make aerospace-quality carbon fiber rockets, throw them away each time, and out-compete those who reuse them. Especially if you're talking hundreds of launches. If "mass production" was just something you could throw in the mix to get cheap aerospace vehicles, you'd think Boeing would've mastered this long ago. Boeing makes over 500 737s every year, and they're not even cheaper per kilogram dry mass than SpaceX's rockets.
Wonder what kind of micropump...Electric pump with expander output for chamber or autogenous pressurization. Neat trick.
Who's really reusing small sat launchers though? And more importantly, does it even make sense right now at this size? We've learned that a reusable system, basically means a rocket almost twice as big than an expendable one if you want the same payload. That does a lot to the cost of building that rocket in addition to the R&D of reusable technology.
Quote from: LooksFlyable on 10/15/2017 11:01 pmWho's really reusing small sat launchers though? And more importantly, does it even make sense right now at this size? We've learned that a reusable system, basically means a rocket almost twice as big than an expendable one if you want the same payload. That does a lot to the cost of building that rocket in addition to the R&D of reusable technology.Vector's "reusable" == add some parachutes. Usual BS.Actually you are right - at this size the economics are totally against real reusablity. I don't think Rocket Lab would (or with electric motors could) do it.
Quote from: ringsider on 10/16/2017 05:23 amQuote from: LooksFlyable on 10/15/2017 11:01 pmWho's really reusing small sat launchers though? And more importantly, does it even make sense right now at this size? We've learned that a reusable system, basically means a rocket almost twice as big than an expendable one if you want the same payload. That does a lot to the cost of building that rocket in addition to the R&D of reusable technology.Vector's "reusable" == add some parachutes. Usual BS.Actually you are right - at this size the economics are totally against real reusablity. I don't think Rocket Lab would (or with electric motors could) do it.Parachutes work way better for small systems, so I wouldn't rule that out just because it wouldn't work for EELV. Also, reuse economics are a lot more feasible at high flight rates, which could be much easier to achieve with a small vehicle.
Actually you are right - at this size the economics are totally against real reusablity. I don't think Rocket Lab would (or with electric motors could) do it.
Cantrell: demand for larger Vector-H (150 kg payload,$3M) rocket at least as great, if not greater, as for Vector-R (60kg, $1.5M).
Cantrell: next Vector test flight in January to test thrust vector control. First orbital launches in July from Wallops.