Author Topic: Vector Launch (formerly Vector Space Systems)  (Read 402050 times)

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #40 on: 09/03/2016 01:50 am »
Attaching images for posterity.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Kryten

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #41 on: 09/08/2016 02:55 pm »
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-space-systems-awarded-25m-in-nasa-and-darpa-contracts-300324578.html
Quote
Vector Space Systems Awarded $2.5M in NASA and DARPA Contracts

Contract will Enhance Company's Flight Test Program of the Vector-R Launch Vehicle

TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector Space Systems, a micro satellite space launch company comprised of new-space industry veterans from SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, McDonnell Douglas and Sea Launch, today announced that NASA has selected its Phase II proposal under the 2015 SBIR/STTR program to continue development of an advanced prototype of the upper stage for the Vector-R launch vehicle.  The contract, proposed through Vector's acquired Garvey Spacecraft Corporation subsidiary, complements an earlier SBIR award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that addresses the use of the Vector-R first stage as a second stage for the XS-1 Experimental Spaceplane.  In conjunction with the awarded contracts, totaling approximately $2.5M, Vector is investing in related infrastructure and range site preparations to enable high performance flight testing by the fourth quarter of 2017.

Under this NASA Phase II STTR project, the Vector team is finishing the design and will then transition into assembly, integration and checkout of a full-scale prototype of the Vector-R upper stage engine. Vector will then integrate this stage with a prototype first stage engine, gained from a contract with DARPA, to create a fully functional two-stage flight test vehicle.  The team members include academic partner University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC).  The AAC hosted precursor ground operation pathfinder tests at its launch facility on Kodiak Island during Phase I that validated the feasibility of this site for the upcoming high performance mission.

Offline Gliderflyer

Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #42 on: 09/10/2016 04:47 pm »
Vector added a few new pictures to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vectorlaunchinc/posts/292045997833009
I tried it at home

Offline CameronD

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #43 on: 09/12/2016 01:14 am »
I love the 'this-way-up arrow' showing which way to point the thing..  ;D
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 ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #44 on: 09/12/2016 01:14 pm »
Vector added a few new pictures to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vectorlaunchinc/posts/292045997833009

This is just a full-size hollow aluminum model with some paintwork, is that correct? It has nothing inside that will make it fly?
« Last Edit: 09/12/2016 01:15 pm by ringsider »

Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #45 on: 09/12/2016 08:47 pm »
Discovery channel video about their test in August

http://linkis.com/review.bellmedia.ca/GLLgv
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Offline Skyrocket

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #46 on: 09/14/2016 06:03 am »
Some info on the Vector launch vehicle family from VSS

(Edit: Document removed - preliminary version not yet to be published - i will repost it, when the final approved version is available)
« Last Edit: 09/14/2016 10:52 pm by Skyrocket »

Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #47 on: 09/14/2016 02:13 pm »
The launch cadence stuff is probably the least of their worries. It's not like they'll have customers with a cool couple million dollars walking up with payloads every week for a foreseeable future anyway.
A bit more questionable is .. here we have a small team, with all the relevant experience, and maybe a good shot of getting financed well enough to actually make to orbit - and of course hence the noise as well, for raising awareness and through that finding the right talent and funds.
However, before anything substantial has yet happened we are looking at no less than five rocket configurations with a bit of electric propulsion technology pivot thrown in, just to make sure everything is in laser focus...
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Offline ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #48 on: 09/14/2016 03:44 pm »
The launch cadence stuff is probably the least of their worries. It's not like they'll have customers with a cool couple million dollars walking up with payloads every week for a foreseeable future anyway.
A bit more questionable is .. here we have a small team, with all the relevant experience, and maybe a good shot of getting financed well enough to actually make to orbit - and of course hence the noise as well, for raising awareness and through that finding the right talent and funds.
However, before anything substantial has yet happened we are looking at no less than five rocket configurations with a bit of electric propulsion technology pivot thrown in, just to make sure everything is in laser focus...

You points made me smile. I have now placed the horse back in front of the cart.
« Last Edit: 09/14/2016 03:59 pm by ringsider »

Offline Davidthefat

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #49 on: 10/12/2016 10:40 pm »
They just posted a video and a bunch of pictures of their operations test on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/786325947335061504

Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #50 on: 10/17/2016 03:44 pm »
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vector-space-systems-announces-60m-agreement-with-york-space-systems-300345619.html

Vector Space Systems Announces $60M Agreement with York Space Systems
Quote
TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector Space Systems, a micro satellite space launch company comprised of new-space industry veterans from SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, McDonnell Douglas and Sea Launch, today finalized an agreement with York Space Systems, an aerospace company specializing in small and medium class spacecraft, to conduct six satellite launches from 2019 through 2022 with the option for 14 additional launches. The first launch through the agreement will also be the inaugural launch of the Vector-H vehicle, which is capable of launching 100 kg into orbit, and will provide an integrated spacecraft to customers through a standardized platform.
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Offline Kryten

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #51 on: 10/18/2016 08:44 pm »
Vector have just published the Vector-R and -H user guides, attached.

Offline brickmack

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #52 on: 10/21/2016 10:42 pm »
Their decision to have 2 separate launch vehicles seems kinda questionable. The larger one isnt that much more expensive as it is, and they could probably bring the average price down considerably by eliminating the redundant production lines for the smaller ones upper stage, interstage, and fairing.

Offline ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #53 on: 10/23/2016 07:36 am »
Vector have just published the Vector-R and -H user guides, attached.

More like a marketing brochure than a PUG - 12 pages.

Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #54 on: 10/30/2016 06:26 pm »
Jim Cantrell, CEO of Vector Space systems will be on next weeks TMRO.tv episode. Submit your questions
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Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #55 on: 11/04/2016 03:25 pm »
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/11/04/vector-atlas/

Vector Space Systems Signs Partnership With ATLAS Space Operations
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Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #56 on: 11/05/2016 05:23 pm »
Going live here in a minute for interview with Jim Cantrell https://www.tmro.tv/live/

Notes :
- future business model in addition to microlaunchers
- apps on microsatellites business model, they take care of launching constellations, users can send apps as payloads ( ?? )
- a bunch of SAR satellites being one of the first big customers, about 21 launches booked .. didnt get the company name - eh its Iceye
- PlanetIQ weather satellites being another

- Jim dont like the term NewSpace ( thank you Jim ) , he prefers enterpreneurial space. Recognizes that space has been driven by commercial interests since forever on satellite markets

- 90ies wave of space business failed because their capital expenditures were insanely high. They are entering at far lower entry points, single digit millions

- Key for 'apps on satellites' is virtualization


« Last Edit: 11/05/2016 05:49 pm by savuporo »
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Offline benjaminhigginbotham

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #57 on: 11/06/2016 04:21 am »
For those who missed it, we have posted the full interview up now:

Offline ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #58 on: 11/06/2016 08:48 pm »
Am I the only one who senses a degree of perfume in this PR cascade from Vector?

They say things like they have 100 launches contracted. And statements like "$45m in backlog and another $25m in backlog." (http://usgif.org/system/uploads/4608/original/Vector_Space_USGIF.pdf)

Let's look at this.

The Iceye contract is for 21 launches. But this is a young startup that raised $5.5m in VC and EU grant money 2015/6, and probably has around $4M of that money left today.

Helsinki, Finland, 12 November 2015 – Iceye announced today a $2.8 million Series A funding round led by True Ventures, with participation from Lifeline Ventures and Founder.org. In September, ICEYE also secured € 2.5 million in R&D funding from SME Instrument within EU Horizon 2020.

There is industry commentary which is hard to take seriously:

And because Iceye is buying in bulk, and in advance (deliveries will begin in 2018), it's getting the best rates Vector has to offer -- somewhere on the order of $20 million to $30 million for the entire project.

Vector R has a 50kg payload bay. $1.5M is the price for the entire bay. Iceye is developing a nanosat, so it won't be taking 50kg or paying $1.5M per launch, even if it had the money to do so.

And then the contract with York Space - a company that is barely a year old, which got seed funding in late 2015, and has 7 employees:

The seven-employee company, currently based in Denver, is establishing a satellite factory near Centennial

And that company signs an alleged $60m contract?

The launch contract with Vector covers six launches between 2019 and 2022 and can be extended to add 14 more missions, the companies said.

So actually 6 contracted, with an option for 14. The headline figure is just PR waffle.

Plus, Jim Cantrell is on the York Space Systems advisory board, and Iceye is buying 10 of YSS's platforms. Is it a circle?

And then there are the "fueling test" images, where they basically vent some LOX out of an empty aluminium tube (watch the video, there is only one "fuel" line running to the "rocket" http://vectorspacesystems.com/video/).

That tube, an "engineering model", was welded up in what looks like Jim's garage, with all his racing photos on the wall:



I get that they want to make some noise, but this looks like heavily scented PR, and that usually ends up hurting everybody.
« Last Edit: 11/06/2016 09:07 pm by ringsider »

Offline savuporo

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #59 on: 11/06/2016 09:07 pm »
Nah, they might exaggerate a bit to gain more visibility and traction, but there isn't anything fantasy-land like here, unlike millions of people on Mars in ten years pronouncements
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