Author Topic: RocketLab Electron Maiden Flight "It's a Test" - 25 May 2017 (04:20 UTC)  (Read 132568 times)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Dedicated thread for RocketLab Electron's 1st flight seeing that it is finally about to happen.  ;)

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

The launch is scheduled not earlier than 21:00 UTC on May 21 (9 am on May 22 in NZ)
« Last Edit: 05/25/2017 05:23 am by Galactic Penguin SST »
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Offline Steven Pietrobon

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http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2796358-135/rocket-lab-test-launch-in-sight

"...Rocket Lab today revealed it planned to send a test rocket into orbit from its launch facility on Onenui Station during a 10-day launch window, starting from 9am on May 22. "
« Last Edit: 05/21/2017 07:33 am by Chris Bergin »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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This is nice to see:

Quote
Good luck to our colleagues at @RocketLabUSA as they launch 'It's a Test' in the coming days. Their success will be good for all of us!

https://twitter.com/virgin_orbit/status/865645924663439360

Offline chalz

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'It's a Test' - Media Advisory on Viewing a Launch of Rocket Lab's Electron Vehicle
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/advisory-on-viewing-a-launch-of-rocket-labs-electron-vehicle/
Quote
WHERE CAN I VIEW A LAUNCH FROM?
As Rocket Lab’s top priority during the test launch is public safety, there are safety zones in place during a launch and no access will be permitted to the Onenui Station. As a result, Launch Complex 1 will not be visible during a launch from any publicly-accessible point on the Mahia Peninsula during the test window of May 22nd to June 3rd.

WILL THE LAUNCH BE LIVE STREAMED?
Due to the likelihood of postponements, test launch attempts will not be live streamed, but video footage of a launch and other press materials will be made available as quickly as possible following the launch attempt.

WHEN WILL THE LAUNCH TAKE PLACE?
The launch process is complex. It’s likely the launch could be postponed, or “scrubbed”, multiple times to allow for small, technical modifications. Weather can also cause scrubs - winds and heavy rain will likely result in a postponement. As a result, we can’t pin point the day or time of launch. We value your time and wouldn’t want to keep you waiting during the 10-day period. Rocket Lab will announce the decision to scrub a launch as soon as possible but this could be as late as 0.1 seconds before lift-off. For this reason, and as the executive team will be based in Auckland during the launch, Rocket Lab suggests there may not be sufficient value for press in traveling to the site.
Wairoa District Council is evaluating the location of possible viewing areas for the commercial phase but these will not be in place for the test phase. Please check our website www.rocketlab.co.nz/mahia for updates on future launches.

WHAT ARE THE SAFTEY ZONE RESTRICTIONS?

ROAD ACCESS
The Public Exclusion Zone (PEZ) on land is contained within the boundaries of privately-owned Onenui Station (Figure 1), including Portland Island (Waikawa). A strictly controlled predefined group of authorised mission personnel are permitted within the PEZ during launch activities.
Temporary road closures will be in place for traffic management and to ensure the safety of vehicles on the Mahia East Coast Road, and the unformed Tawapata Road, on launch attempt days. The narrow, unsealed and winding roads are unsuited to high-levels of traffic and authorities anticipate an increase in vehicles on the Peninsula. Road closures and traffic management will take effect six hours before scheduled lift-off.
For the latest, and most specific, updates around road closures please visit www.rocketlab.co.nz/mahia

AIR ACCESS
In order to facilitate the safety of air navigation during the launch, temporary Restricted and Danger Areas are prescribed surrounding the launch area. The Civil Aviation Authority designates the appropriate special use airspace that is used for events such as the Rocket Lab launch. The exact date and time the special use airspace becomes active will be advised via a notice to airmen (NOTAM). Rocket Lab will complete this notiffication at
least 24 hours prior to the active time.
The temporary restrictions also apply to drones. The launch tracking systems could interfere with drone systems and potentially cause significant damage to equipment. Therefore, we ask that all members of the press refrain from the use of drones.
Pilots are advised of any airspace changes in the Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement – available online at www.aip.net.nz/Home.aspx.

MARINE ACCESS
Three ship hazard areas have been identified for this launch; one at the launch site and two planned jettison impact areas downrange. All ship hazard areas are the subject of a temporary Notice to Mariners, Coastal Navigational Warnings, and NAVAREA warnings issued by LINZ and RCCNZ.
The launch site hazard area (figure 3) is precautionary and during a nominal flight will have no debris fall there. The area is up to 24km wide and extends approximately 90 km south of the launch site. The area within New Zealand territorial waters is declared a Marine Reserve Area and closed to unauthorised vessel traffic during launch attempt activities.

IF I CANNOT ACCESS THE SITE, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
For real time updates regarding the launch, we recommend following the Rocket Lab Twitter page twitter.com/RocketLabUSA or contacting the media team:
Catherine Moreau Hammond +64 27 538 9039 [email protected]
Chloe Tonkin +64 20 414 30668 [email protected]
Video footage of a successful launch and other press materials will be made available as quickly as possible following the launch attempt. Peter Beck, CEO and founder of Rocket Lab, will be based in Auckland for the duration of the launch and available for interviews and press comments.
As previously mentioned, the Wairoa District Council is evaluating the location of possible viewing areas for the commercial phase once testing phases are complete. Updates about this can be found on our website.

Offline Patchouli

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According to https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ the launch is scheduled not earlier than 21:00 UTC on May 21 (9 am on May 22 in NZ if I got the time zones right). Does someone know what is the source of that?

http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2796358-135/rocket-lab-test-launch-in-sight

"...Rocket Lab today revealed it planned to send a test rocket into orbit from its launch facility on Onenui Station during a 10-day launch window, starting from 9am on May 22. "

It's kinda looks like a miniature Falcon 9 from that angle.
« Last Edit: 05/20/2017 12:59 am by Patchouli »

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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WILL THE LAUNCH BE LIVE STREAMED?
Due to the likelihood of postponements, test launch attempts will not be live streamed,...

That's got to be the lamest excuse ever, unless internet is so expensive in New Zealand that even Rocketlab can't afford it! This will be a historic moment for New Zealand. People who want to experience this won't mind waiting 10 days (or more) for it to happen. They're about to send a payload into space!

Been trying to find any New Zealand live streams that might be covering the launch. So far only found a radio channel that is live streaming. Don't know if they'll be covering the launch.

http://www.radiolive.co.nz/home.html
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline high road

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WILL THE LAUNCH BE LIVE STREAMED?
Due to the likelihood of postponements, test launch attempts will not be live streamed,...

That's got to be the lamest excuse ever, unless internet is so expensive in New Zealand that even Rocketlab can't afford it! This will be a historic moment for New Zealand. People who want to experience this won't mind waiting 10 days (or more) for it to happen. They're about to send a payload into space!

Been trying to find any New Zealand live streams that might be covering the launch. So far only found a radio channel that is live streaming. Don't know if they'll be covering the launch.

http://www.radiolive.co.nz/home.html

Well, just about every person in the world that would appreciate that fully is a member of this forum. While there are massively more people who would be complaining that nothing is happening, or call them amateurs for having to scrub plenty of times. Plus, it does take some organising to have a decent livestream. They'll have plenty of things to do already.

Offline TrevorMonty

There is a chance of failure and RL don't want that video footage going public. Besides they are private company, they have no obligation to provide a webcast.

If launch is success then video will be released ASAP.

Offline tehwkd

Attempt #1 - May 22, 0030-0530 UTC.
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Offline TrevorMonty


Offline savuporo

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.. Plus, it does take some organising to have a decent livestream. They'll have plenty of things to do already.
I think it's just a matter of trying to maintain laser focus. Anyone in the team worrying about appearances instead of performing their job increases the likelihood of screwing up. Even if that's a tiny part of the team, just not doing it will take a part of the pressure off.
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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline tehwkd

Attempt #1 NOTAM has been deleted.
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Offline Steven Pietrobon

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I think it's just a matter of trying to maintain laser focus. Anyone in the team worrying about appearances instead of performing their job increases the likelihood of screwing up. Even if that's a tiny part of the team, just not doing it will take a part of the pressure off.

Oh come on! They will have video cameras pointed at the rocket recording the launch. Someone has to monitor this and that someone could easily live stream it. SpaceX did it with their first launches. If something goes wrong and you don't want to be embarrassed, just put in a delay and then punch the button when it goes kablooey!
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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Attempt #1 NOTAM has been deleted.

Thanks. I entered NZZO into the link below to check.

https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/
« Last Edit: 05/21/2017 08:00 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Lars-J

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I think it's just a matter of trying to maintain laser focus. Anyone in the team worrying about appearances instead of performing their job increases the likelihood of screwing up. Even if that's a tiny part of the team, just not doing it will take a part of the pressure off.

Oh come on! They will have video cameras pointed at the rocket recording the launch. Someone has to monitor this and that someone could easily live stream it. SpaceX did it with their first launches. If something goes wrong and you don't want to be embarrassed, just put in a delay and then punch the button when it goes kablooey!

Yeah, SpaceX did it, and they got a lot of flack for crappy livestreams, streams they took years to make what they are today (with thousands of employees, but people also still complain).

They are under ZERO - I repeat ZERO - obligation to provide a livestream, and the small crew have more important things to do.

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Attempt #1 NOTAM has been deleted.

And here's the reason:

Rocket Lab @RocketLabUSA

High winds have prevented vehicle rollout and launch preparation. Launch for Monday May 22 delayed a day to Tuesday May 23 (NZST). #ItsaTest

https://www.twitter.com/RocketLabUSA/status/866198795326967809
« Last Edit: 05/21/2017 07:56 am by Galactic Penguin SST »
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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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 ...

Offline HVM

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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

Offline john smith 19

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That's got to be the lamest excuse ever, unless internet is so expensive in New Zealand that even Rocketlab can't afford it!
Given this is a pretty remote site with apparently no other tenants I'm guessing setting up a link means actual cable laying. I'm guessing most of that bandwidth will be reserved for comms with their other offices in NZ and the US.

And why can I hear the voice of Ryan Reynolds in my head talking about "Australia Day?"  :)
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon
This will be a historic moment for New Zealand. People who want to experience this won't mind waiting 10 days (or more) for it to happen. They're about to send a payload into space!
Absolutely true. It's an amazing feat. I doubt many who've never tried to set up a company to do orbital launch will understand quite how impressive this is, especially given that unlike Musk they didn't start with a (fairly) large bag of cash to begin with.
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon
Been trying to find any New Zealand live streams that might be covering the launch. So far only found a radio channel that is live streaming. Don't know if they'll be covering the launch.

http://www.radiolive.co.nz/home.html
Yeah, SpaceX did it, and they got a lot of flack for crappy livestreams, streams they took years to make what they are today (with thousands of employees, but people also still complain).
An excellent point.

How quickly people forget SX have not always done everything perfectly from day one. They've evolved over the years.
Quote from: Lars-J
They are under ZERO - I repeat ZERO - obligation to provide a livestream, and the small crew have more important things to do.
I'd say their media policy is rather more Blue Origin or Reaction Engines than SpaceX.
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