Author Topic: Black Sky - Electron (flight 22) - LC-1 Love at 1st Insight 18 Nov 2021 UTC  (Read 24586 times)

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

Quote
Mission Name: Love At First Insight
Rocket: Electron
Electron Name: Love At First Insight
Launch Window: NET late August
Launch Time: TBC
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1
MISSION OVERVIEW

Scheduled to lift-off from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula in late August, the ‘Love At First Insight’ mission will be Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch overall and fifth mission of 2021. ‘Love At First Insight’ is the first in a rapid succession of scheduled Electron launches between late August through September that represent the company’s fastest launch turnarounds to date.

The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission is the latest in a multi-launch agreement signed earlier this year for BlackSky between Rocket Lab and Spaceflight Inc., which is providing integration and mission management services for BlackSky. This mission will deploy the eighth and ninth satellites of BlackSky’s planned constellation as part of that rapid-launch agreement, with another four Gen-2 smallsats across the two additional Electron dedicated missions to follow.
« Last Edit: 11/18/2021 01:01 am by zubenelgenubi »


Offline CameronD

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Note that this launch is for "BlackSky" (Global)... not to be confused with the other "Black Sky" (Aerospace)
(these guys https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47422.20)
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.

Online trimeta

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Note that this launch is for "BlackSky" (Global)... not to be confused with the other "Black Sky" (Aerospace)
(these guys https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47422.20)

Speaking of "not to be confused with," my understanding is that BlackSky Global no longer has the same parent company as Spaceflight, Inc., the rideshare organizing company. Even though they used to have the same parent, Spaceflight Industries, which still owns BlackSky Global.

Online gongora

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Note that this launch is for "BlackSky" (Global)... not to be confused with the other "Black Sky" (Aerospace)
(these guys https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47422.20)

Speaking of "not to be confused with," my understanding is that BlackSky Global no longer has the same parent company as Spaceflight, Inc., the rideshare organizing company. Even though they used to have the same parent, Spaceflight Industries, which still owns BlackSky Global.

They sold off the rideshare business last year, and subsequently dropped the Spaceflight Industries name early this year.  It's now BlackSky Holdings.  They're working on completing a SPAC transaction in the near future which will end up changing the name of the company to BlackSky Technology Inc.

Offline CameronD

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Note that this launch is for "BlackSky" (Global)... not to be confused with the other "Black Sky" (Aerospace)
(these guys https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47422.20)

Speaking of "not to be confused with," my understanding is that BlackSky Global no longer has the same parent company as Spaceflight, Inc., the rideshare organizing company. Even though they used to have the same parent, Spaceflight Industries, which still owns BlackSky Global.

They sold off the rideshare business last year, and subsequently dropped the Spaceflight Industries name early this year.  It's now BlackSky Holdings.  They're working on completing a SPAC transaction in the near future which will end up changing the name of the company to BlackSky Technology Inc.

Well.. just so long as they don't become BlackSky Aerospace, we'll be all good!
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 TrevorMonty

This mission isn't likely to fly this month.
NZ has been placed in 3day level 4 lockdown and 7days for Auckland where RL is based.
If we get on top of this small Covid outbreak then its likely to lvl3 for few days or week.

Government Go Hard Go Fast reaction has caught everybody by surprised. Anouncement was at 6pm, lockdown started 6hours later. They normally give 48hr notice. Reaction seems extreme but we just need to look at New South Wales to see what happens if half hearted approach is taken.


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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1429220219222781953

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Satellite ops have been completed on the next @BlackSky_Inc payloads! Next up: integration with Electron for back-to-back launches soon.

Offline XRZ.YZ

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Any update for this launch?

Seems Rocket Lab is providing less details for their launch until immediately before the launch this year compared to they will disclose the launch window a few weeks ahead in past few years.
XQCR LLYZ GYZH HZSZ

Offline TrevorMonty

Any update for this launch?

Seems Rocket Lab is providing less details for their launch until immediately before the launch this year compared to they will disclose the launch window a few weeks ahead in past few years.
Country has been in level 4 lockdown for last 11days with Auckland likely to stay at 4 for another couple weeks. Rest of country including Mahia is going to lvl3 on 1st. Any RL staff wanting to leave Auck will need a permit, that is assuming government deems space launches an essential service.



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Offline russianhalo117

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Any update for this launch?

Seems Rocket Lab is providing less details for their launch until immediately before the launch this year compared to they will disclose the launch window a few weeks ahead in past few years.
All NZ launches remain on hold due to mandatory level 4 COVID19 et al lockdown in the country. Once the level down graded the launch control center in Auckland can commence the start of the next flight. US operations remain unaffected at this time.
« Last Edit: 08/27/2021 08:46 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline Ken the Bin

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Delayed until September.

Cross-post:
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/
Quote
Next Mission: Love At First Insight

Mission Name     Love At First Insight
Rocket     Electron
Electron Name     Love At First Insight

Launch Window     September
Launch Time     TBC
Launch Site     Launch Complex 1


Offline Kiwi53

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All NZ launches remain on hold due to mandatory level 4 COVID19 et al lockdown in the country. Once the level down graded the launch control center in Auckland can commence the start of the next flight. US operations remain unaffected at this time.

Auckland will remain locked down at "Covid Alert Level 4" until at least 14th September, then would have one or possibly two weeks at "Level 3" before dropping to "Level 2". Launch Control Centre operations could definitely go ahead under Level 2, maybe Level 3 with an exemption from the government.
I think the rocket manufacturing operation would be able operate at Level 3 with everyone masked and appropriate social distancing measures.

The Mahia Launch Pad complex will drop to Level 3 tomorrow, and probably to Level 2 in a week on 8th September. Launch preparation activities and launches would probably be allowed at Level 3, certainly under Level 2.


For those outside NZ, the details of the NZ lockdown measures are here: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/about-the-alert-system/

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1433527431168626688

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Spot our star trackers on the @Blacksky_Inc sats for our next missions! Being a vertically-integrated space company means not only do we design and build our own rockets & satellites - often our components are part of our customers' sats too.

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https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211011005163/en/Rocket-Lab-Launch-Operations-Underway-For-Two-BlackSky-Missions-in-November

Quote
Rocket Lab Launch Operations Underway For Two BlackSky Missions in November
The launches, Rocket Lab’s 22nd and 23rd Electron missions, are part of a multi-launch deal that represents the largest number of satellites BlackSky has committed to a single launch provider.

October 11, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading launch provider and space systems company, has today announced it has scheduled two dedicated launches in November for Spaceflight Inc.’s customer, real-time geospatial and global monitoring company BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY).

“The speed to space Electron provides our customers is unmatched in the dedicated small launch industry, and we’re thrilled to be delivering a launch service that provides assurance for BlackSky to scale their constellation and services with confidence”

A two-week launch window for Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch will open November 11-24, 2021, while the 23rd Electron mission is targeted for lift-off during a two-week launch window that opens November 27. Both missions are scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

Each mission will deploy two Gen-2 satellites for BlackSky in a rapid expansion of the geospatial and global monitoring company’s low Earth orbit constellation. These two dedicated missions are part of a multi-launch agreement signed between Rocket Lab and Spaceflight Inc., for BlackSky earlier this year, and precede a third dedicated mission that will follow to deploy two additional BlackSky Gen-2 satellites. Together, these launches - along with a successfully deployed Gen-2 satellite on Rocket Lab’s “They Go Up So Fast” rideshare mission in March this year - represent the largest number of satellites BlackSky has committed to a single launch provider to date.

The back-to-back launch of these two dedicated missions supports BlackSky’s aggressive scaling of its high-resolution Earth-imaging constellation to bolster its delivery of analytics and insights to industries including transportation, infrastructure, land use, defense, supply chain management, and humanitarian aid.

“The speed to space Electron provides our customers is unmatched in the dedicated small launch industry, and we’re thrilled to be delivering a launch service that provides assurance for BlackSky to scale their constellation and services with confidence,” says Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck.

Follow Rocket Lab on Twitter @RocketLab for real-time mission updates closer to launch day

Online trimeta

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Rocket Lab will attempt to recover the booster used on Flight 22. As before, the stage will be allowed to splash down into the ocean, but for the first time a helicopter will be in the vicinity to track the descending stage and prep for future helicopter missions. This will be their last splash-down attempt, the next time they go for a recovery they'll try to catch. The stage will also feature enhancements to the parachute and heat shield.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/updates/rocket-lab-to-recover-electron-rocket-introduce-helicopter-operations-during-next-launch

Offline Ken the Bin

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Rocket Lab has updated their Next Mission webpage with the launch window start time.

(Emphasis added.)

Mission Name:    Love At First Insight
Rocket:    Electron
Electron Name:    Love At First Insight

Launch Window:    November 11-24
Launch Time:    Launch window opens 04:25 UTC
Launch Site:    Launch Complex 1


Offline fortynineundefeated

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AE/ME
6 Suborbital spaceflight payloads. 14.55 minutes of in-space time.

Offline Rondaz

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Electron’s fairing is looking sharp ahead of our next launch. We've modified the nose and added length to the fairing to optimize space for @BlackSky_Inc's pair of Gen-2 sats on this dedicated mission.

T-6 days to launch window opening on Nov 11 UTC / Nov 10 ET/PT.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1456345088527794178

Offline Ken the Bin

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NGA notices:

Quote from: NGA
060411Z NOV 21
HYDROPAC 3175/21(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   110225Z TO 240115Z NOV IN AREA BOUND BY
   39-30S 178-27E, 39-18S 177-48E,
   39-15S 177-48E, 39-12S 177-51E,
   39-12S 178-00E, 39-18S 178-27E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 240215Z NOV 21.
Quote from: NGA
060422Z NOV 21
HYDROPAC 3176/21(76,83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
CHATHAM ISLANDS.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   110225Z TO 240115Z NOV IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 39-30S 177-00W, 40-30S 173-00W,
      41-48S 173-30W, 40-48S 177-30W.
   B. 42-36S 163-18W, 41-30S 163-00W,
      41-30S 157-48W, 42-42S 157-54W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 240215Z NOV 21.

Edit: Added "Space Debris" notice.
« Last Edit: 11/06/2021 03:39 am by Ken the Bin »

Offline Ken the Bin

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Offline Ken the Bin

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Launch information from the press kit:

Online zubenelgenubi

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Will this launch during the Nov 10 PST / Nov 11 UTC launch window?  (several hours from now)
« Last Edit: 11/10/2021 09:14 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

« Last Edit: 11/10/2021 10:56 pm by Galactic Penguin SST »
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

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Online zubenelgenubi

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Launch has been delayed to 05:32 UTC.
This launch would be the second orbital launch on November 11 UTC, following the successful launch of Dragon/Crew-3.

Edit: Or not.
« Last Edit: 11/11/2021 03:15 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline daveglo

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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

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Offline Ken the Bin

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Rocket Lab is delaying an additional day for weather.  Now NET Wednesday, November 17 at 01:40-03:50  UTC.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1459969141956247556

Quote from: Rocket Lab
Launch Update: The weather improves later in the week, so we are now targeting 17th November UTC for the launch of #LoveAtFirstInsight

Offline Zed_Noir

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Rocket Lab is delaying another additional day for weather.  Now NET Thursday, November 18 at 01:20-03:30  UTC.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1460507497190412292?s=20

Quote from: Rocket Lab
Strong ground & upper level winds at LC-1 tomorrow are likely to violate launch & helicopter ops criteria, so the #LoveAtFirstInsight launch target is now Thurs 18 Nov.

Offline PM3

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https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1461049683254525952

Quote from: Rocket Lab
It's launch day for #LoveAtFirstInsight! The weather is trending green, Electron is ready, and the team is on console.

T-0 has been set for:
🚀UTC | 01:38
🚀NZDT | 14:38
🚀PST | 17:38
🚀EST | 20:38

Mission info: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission
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Offline Ken the Bin

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Webcast (video id N-sVCWo_xpE):


Offline pb2000

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Webcast is live T-10mins
Launches attended: Worldview-4 (Atlas V 401), Iridium NEXT Flight 1 (Falcon 9 FT), PAZ+Starlink (Falcon 9 FT), Arabsat-6A (Falcon Heavy)
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Offline hartspace

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Polling complete.  Go for Launch!

Offline hartspace

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Auto-sequence started.  T-2 minutes.

Offline pb2000

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Launches attended: Worldview-4 (Atlas V 401), Iridium NEXT Flight 1 (Falcon 9 FT), PAZ+Starlink (Falcon 9 FT), Arabsat-6A (Falcon Heavy)
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Offline pb2000

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Launches attended: Worldview-4 (Atlas V 401), Iridium NEXT Flight 1 (Falcon 9 FT), PAZ+Starlink (Falcon 9 FT), Arabsat-6A (Falcon Heavy)
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Offline hartspace

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MECO and staging

Offline hartspace

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2nd stage ignition

Offline hartspace

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Fairing sep

Offline hartspace

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Battery swap and jettison on the 2nd stage

Offline hartspace

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1st stage main chute deployed

Offline hartspace

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SECO.  Kick stage separation

Offline hartspace

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Nominal transfer orbit

Offline hartspace

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45 minute coast for upper stage before circularization burn

Offline Everything Space

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Splashdown confirmed by Peter Beck; helicopter sees it as well.
Avid Starship and all space stuff fan

Offline hartspace

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1st satellite deployed.  "Top Hat" adapter separated.  2nd satellite deployed.

Apparently the upper stage circularization burn happened as planned before the deployments.
« Last Edit: 11/18/2021 01:36 am by hartspace »

Offline hartspace

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Congrats to Rocket Lab on their successful mission

Offline Everything Space

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Avid Starship and all space stuff fan

Online zubenelgenubi

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And thank you for covering the launch here!

Congrats to Rocket Lab on their successful mission
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Offline JuaniX

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From this tweet:
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1461147113287475201

And my taking notes from the official livestream:

1:38:13      Lift-off
1:39:29      MaxQ
1:40:42      MECO
1:40:45      Stage sep 1-2
1:40:47      SES
1:41:20      Fairing sep
1:42:58      1st stage apogee
1:45:39      Battery swap
1:46:50      stage 1 main chute
1:48:27      SECO
1:48:32      Stage sep 2-3
2:29:54      Curie burn (approx)
2:32:20      Deploy sat 1
2:33:03      Deploy adaptor
2:33:47      Deploy sat 2
Lanzamientos Espaciales - Launch calendar in Spanish, and further info on spaceflight - https://lanzamientosespaciales.com
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Offline eeergo

Beck noting the deboost of the kick stage, and relevant critique by Dr McDowell (to be fair, 170-ish km implies a pretty quick deorbit, even if the burn didn't quite immediately doom it):

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1461176588079443968
-DaviD-

Offline eeergo

Some screen captures to illustrate today's launch since I couldn't watch it live. Interestingly, they mentioned they perform a mini-static fire slightly *prior to fueling* at T-5h, with just a split-second burst (without reaching meaningful thrust), with what I assume are the Rutherford igniters.
-DaviD-

Offline eeergo

And more screenshots from MECO to recovery ops.
-DaviD-

Offline OneSpeed

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Here is a comparison of the Electron missions 21 and 22.

A typical Electron payload is as much as 200kg to 450km, but the payload for mission 22 was two 44kg BlackSky micro-satellites, a Photon kick stage, and a 'TopHat' interstage.

Here are a couple of points unique to this mission.

1. The S1 burn concluded with an essentially constant 3g terminal guidance phase. Previous missions have had a range of terminal guidance profiles, but never constant g.

2. The S2 burn was some 80 seconds longer than any previous missions, at a lower throttle, and with an earlier throttle down. This lower stress profile may have been made possible by the relatively light payload on this mission.
« Last Edit: 11/18/2021 10:49 am by OneSpeed »

Offline Citabria

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Here is a comparison of the Electron missions 21 and 22.

Interesting that there is no discernible increase in acceleration at 446 sec. after battery jettison. So the mass shedding is not much.

Offline SLC

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Here is a comparison of the Electron missions 21 and 22.

Interesting that there is no discernible increase in acceleration at 446 sec. after battery jettison. So the mass shedding is not much.
Or they might just throttle back as they release the batteries to avoid too much of a jerk ...  it is an interesting point though.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Some newly released photos from Rocket Lab

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