Author Topic: RocketLab Electron Maiden Flight "It's a Test" - 25 May 2017 (04:20 UTC)  (Read 132566 times)

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Feature Article - by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/rocket-labs-electron-inaugural-flight-new-zealand/

The flow chart is quite bad, Rutherford have clearly two electric motors, one for each pump. And such thing as "electric engine" doesn't exist.

img: (c) Phil Walter


The company's own website calls it an "electric Rutherford engine."

Offline input~2

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WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND-NORTHEAST COAST.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
0030Z TO 0530Z DAILY 22 MAY THRU 03 JUN
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 39-11.55S 177-46.67E, 39-11.55S 178-04.93E,
40-02.91S 178-04.85E, 40-03.46S 177-57.27E.
B. 44-20.42S 177-49.33E, 44-13.44S 179-22.06E,
48-01.00S 179-34.04W, 48-19.73S 178-50.20E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 030630Z JUN 17.//

Authority: CNW 123/17 170515Z MAY 17.

Date: 170619Z MAY 17
Cancel: 03063000 Jun 17



SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 29.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS SPACE DEBRIS
0030Z TO 0530Z DAILY 22 MAY THRU 03 JUN
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 44-13S 179-22E, 48-01S 179-34W,
48-20S 178-50E, 44-20S 177-49E.
B. 58-28S 176-32W, 62-52S 173-58W,
63-10S 175-50W, 58-41S 178-28W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 030630Z JUN 17.//

Authority: NAVAREA XIV 43/17 162130Z MAY 17.

Date: 162136Z MAY 17
Cancel: 03063000 Jun 17

Offline darkenfast

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Even if this first flight is unsuccessful, this looks a lot better than the fake Vector "not-the-real-rocket" launch a few weeks ago.  I hope this design succeeds.
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Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Update on the delay plus a press kit!


Rocket Lab Testing Update ― 22 May 2017

Rocket Lab delays roll out of test launch attempt from Launch Complex 1

Rocket Lab, an American-New Zealand aerospace company, has delayed the roll out of the launch vehicle called Electron, titled ‘It’s a Test’, by one day at Launch Complex 1 due to weather conditions. The planned launch attempt will now take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.

Peter Beck, CEO and founder of Rocket Lab, says “Safety is Rocket Lab’s number one priority. Unfortunately, yesterday’s high winds in Mahia prevented our team from rolling the rocket out to the launch pad in preparations for launch. We are keeping a close eye on the weather and will roll out the rocket later today as the weather has improved, with the goal of a launch attempt tomorrow.”

During the test phase, it’s common for planned launches to be postponed to ensure ideal conditions.The launch attempt will now occur on Tuesday 23 May 2017.

For updates from Rocket Lab, follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/RocketLabUSA
« Last Edit: 05/21/2017 11:04 pm by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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NOTAMs are out. Window opening is now 00:30 UTC (12:30 pm local). That's quite a bit later than the previous time of 9 am local.

B2339/17 - TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD028 (EAST AUCKLAND OCEANIC FIR) IS
PRESCRIBED AS FLW:
ALL THAT AIRSPACE BOUNDED BY COORDINATES:
S 41 10 00.0, E 178 52 00.0
S 43 44 27.2, E 179 27 48.0
S 53 11 30.0, W 178 18 00.0
S 57 44 00.0, W 176 54 00.0
S 66 11 20.0, W 172 00 00.0
S 66 31 05.0, W 174 35 50.0
S 58 02 00.0, W 178 56 00.0
S 53 22 59.0, E 179 50 30.0
S 49 36 00.0, E 178 58 00.0
S 46 36 00.0, E 178 16 30.0
S 43 54 00.0, E 177 46 30.0
S 41 10 00.0, E 177 41 00.0
ACTIVITY: ROCKETRY
ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY: ROCKET LAB LTD, TEL +64 21 0829 2217.
PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO CIVIL AVIATION RULE PART 71 UNDER A DELEGATED
AUTHORITY ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION. SFC - FL999, 23 MAY 00:30
2017 UNTIL 23 MAY 05:30 2017. CREATED: 21 MAY 12:25 2017

B2338/17 (Issued for NZZC NZZO) - DANGER AREA NZD492 (MAHIA, HAWKE'S BAY) ACT.
REF AIP SUP 12/17. SFC - FL999, 23 MAY 00:30 2017 UNTIL 23 MAY 05:30 2017. CREATED:
21 MAY 12:21 2017
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline CameronD

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Just a reminder:

Quote
As with any new rocket, there are a lot of factors that come together ahead of a test and we’re not going to fly unless we’re ready. It's highly possible we will scrub multiple attempts as we fine tune and wait for favorable weather conditions.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/electron-test-window/
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline Dante80

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Quote
Peter, our CEO, checking out the wind. Don't worry - we also have a weather station out there! Weather is set to improve soon. #ItsaTest

https://twitter.com/rocketlabusa/status/866200524634247168

See for yourself in the attached ...

Yep, as I understand the launch site location can get a bit windy.

Still worth it for the view alone..


Offline john smith 19

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Quote
Peter, our CEO, checking out the wind. Don't worry - we also have a weather station out there! Weather is set to improve soon. #ItsaTest

https://twitter.com/rocketlabusa/status/866200524634247168

See for yourself in the attached ...

Yep, as I understand the launch site location can get a bit windy.

Still worth it for the view alone..
That really does look like a long way from anywhere, including the nearest cell tower.

Should anyone be too surprised live streaming is not a priority with them?
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

Offline Flying Beaver

Quote
Peter, our CEO, checking out the wind. Don't worry - we also have a weather station out there! Weather is set to improve soon. #ItsaTest

https://twitter.com/rocketlabusa/status/866200524634247168

See for yourself in the attached ...

Yep, as I understand the launch site location can get a bit windy.

Still worth it for the view alone..
That really does look like a long way from anywhere, including the nearest cell tower.

Should anyone be too surprised live streaming is not a priority with them?

Well...

Quote
The Mission Control Center for Electron and Rocket Lab is centered in Auckland, New Zealand – approximately 500 km (310 mi) to the northwest – and will allows the Rocket Lab teams to monitor more than 25,000 data channels during the countdown and launch.

Doesn't sound like bandwidth is an issue.
Watched B1019 land in person 21/12/2015.

Offline just-nick

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I really respect their decision not to livestream, as much as I'd like to be watching.

Given the sheer number of new things going on (new vehicle, some new engine technologies, new launch site, etc.) the freedom to just work things through without feeling like anyone was "watching over your shoulder," second guessing on forums, etc. Even if it is just a psychological effect, knowing that you have the freedom to swear over the launch net, get a hammer out and bang on something if that's what it takes, recycle the count again and again and again...

Offline sewebster

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Feature Article - by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/rocket-labs-electron-inaugural-flight-new-zealand/

Thanks for the article! Is it normal to convert Isp numbers in seconds into minutes+seconds? Struck me as odd :)

Offline ArbitraryConstant

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Thanks for the article! Is it normal to convert Isp numbers in seconds into minutes+seconds? Struck me as odd :)
I don't think I have ever seen this.

Offline punder

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Offline Bubbinski

It's 9:27 am Tuesday morning in NZ. No Twitter update from Electron yet.

Good luck!
I'll even excitedly look forward to "flags and footprints" and suborbital missions. Just fly...somewhere.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Here are links to live New Zealand Radio and TV. Probably of not much use, but we might get lucky.

http://www.radio.org.nz/
http://streema.com/tv/country/New_Zealand
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline sewebster

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Rocket Lab‏Verified account @RocketLabUSA  2m2 minutes ago
Launch currently on hold due to weather - high clouds causing risk of triboelectrification. Updates to follow #ItsaTest

https://twitter.com/RocketLabUSA/status/866792255339634688

Offline just-nick

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Offline QuantumG

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Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Some update from the NZ Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11861219

That says there is a Hawke's Bay Today reporter and photographer near Mahia. I found a link to their newspaper. Click on the top left of the page to read the article.

http://apnregionalnz.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Flying Beaver

Latest sat. 11am local. Marked launch site.
« Last Edit: 05/22/2017 11:30 pm by Flying Beaver »
Watched B1019 land in person 21/12/2015.

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