Author Topic: Vector Launch (formerly Vector Space Systems)  (Read 402743 times)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #820 on: 07/30/2018 06:50 pm »
Quote
Probably the last time that a @vectorspacesys Block 1 vehicle (orbital/carbon fiber) shares an assembly line with an original Block 0 vehicle (Suborbital/Alum). Together here is the last Block 0.003 to fly in a month (without skins) & first Block 1 1001 vehicle for Oct launch.

https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1024002808771534849

Online gongora

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #821 on: 09/07/2018 02:50 am »
1559-EX-ST-2018
Quote
Vector has completed an analysis of the nominal trajectory for a two-stage flight of the Vector-R. The
timeline of mission events (Max Q, MECO, Stage Sep, etc..) is listed in the attached REF3. Max Q will
occur roughly 41 seconds after launch, where MECO will occur roughly 2 minutes and 7 seconds into
the launch. Stage separation will occur roughly 5 seconds after MECO. Maximum downrange distance
where communication is required is 316 km. The maximum vehicle altitude will be 64 km, and the
maximum slant range (crossrange) will be 242 km from the ground station to the vehicle.

Under nominal flight conditions, after Stage 1 burnout and separation, Stage 2 is expected to tumble
and break up with an instantaneous impact point similar to that of Stage 1. These points will be off
the coast of Kodiak Island, approximately 316 km downrange into the Pacific Ocean; located at 54° 9'
8.28''N, 149° 50' 14.64'' W.

This application will cover a single flight of the Vector-R B0.101 launch vehicle. This launch will
demonstrate launch capability for the Vector-R B1 and B2 series. Separate STA applications will be
submitted for the follow-on Vector-R series.

This application is for a single flight (estimated 3 hours of frequency usage) of the Vector launch
vehicle. The launch vehicle maximum flight duration will be less than 10 minutes. Pre-flight transmitter
operation is expected to be less than 90 minutes. The maximum operating time is expected to be less
than 3 hours from the commencement of launch activities. This is an absolute worst-case estimate as
operating longer than 30 to 60 minutes may require shut down of the transmitters due to thermal
concerns.

The proposed launch site is Launch Pad C at Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska, located on Kodiak
Island, Alaska at 57°25’50.57141” N, 152°21’10.93786” W. For this application we would like to submit
approval for the following range of dates; October 8th, 2018 to April 1st, 2019. However, the planned
launch date for Vector-R B0.101 is targeted for October 31st, 2018
from Kodiak Island, AK (PSCA)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #822 on: 09/07/2018 03:17 am »
1559-EX-ST-2018
Quote
Vector has completed an analysis of the nominal trajectory for a two-stage flight of the Vector-R. The
timeline of mission events (Max Q, MECO, Stage Sep, etc..) is listed in the attached REF3. Max Q will
occur roughly 41 seconds after launch, where MECO will occur roughly 2 minutes and 7 seconds into
the launch. Stage separation will occur roughly 5 seconds after MECO. Maximum downrange distance
where communication is required is 316 km. The maximum vehicle altitude will be 64 km, and the
maximum slant range (crossrange) will be 242 km from the ground station to the vehicle.

Under nominal flight conditions, after Stage 1 burnout and separation, Stage 2 is expected to tumble
and break up with an instantaneous impact point similar to that of Stage 1. These points will be off
the coast of Kodiak Island, approximately 316 km downrange into the Pacific Ocean; located at 54° 9'
8.28''N, 149° 50' 14.64'' W.

This application will cover a single flight of the Vector-R B0.101 launch vehicle. This launch will
demonstrate launch capability for the Vector-R B1 and B2 series. Separate STA applications will be
submitted for the follow-on Vector-R series.

This application is for a single flight (estimated 3 hours of frequency usage) of the Vector launch
vehicle. The launch vehicle maximum flight duration will be less than 10 minutes. Pre-flight transmitter
operation is expected to be less than 90 minutes. The maximum operating time is expected to be less
than 3 hours from the commencement of launch activities. This is an absolute worst-case estimate as
operating longer than 30 to 60 minutes may require shut down of the transmitters due to thermal
concerns.

The proposed launch site is Launch Pad C at Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska, located on Kodiak
Island, Alaska at 57°25’50.57141” N, 152°21’10.93786” W. For this application we would like to submit
approval for the following range of dates; October 8th, 2018 to April 1st, 2019. However, the planned
launch date for Vector-R B0.101 is targeted for October 31st, 2018
from Kodiak Island, AK (PSCA)
0.101 would indicate that it isn't aimed at orbit, no?
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Online gongora

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #823 on: 09/07/2018 03:25 am »
This should be the last (intentionally) suborbital flight (the last Block 0).
« Last Edit: 09/07/2018 03:27 am by gongora »

Offline Kryten

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #824 on: 09/07/2018 08:28 am »
 From redesign of their website and the STA above, Vector now seem to be using 'Vector Launch Inc.' exclusively rather than Vector Space Systems. The thread should probably be renamed.

Online Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #825 on: 09/07/2018 08:58 am »
What happened to B0.003? Has this flight been cancelled?
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.


Offline Davidthefat

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #827 on: 09/07/2018 03:12 pm »
https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1027270198339018754

Interestingly they moved the prop tanks aft


https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1032249180763254784
Looks like they got the skin panels on the rocket

Online gongora

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #828 on: 09/07/2018 03:38 pm »
What happened to B0.003? Has this flight been cancelled?

I think this is the B0.003 flight.  Maybe the paperwork has the model number instead of serial number?  This permit is for a suborbital Block 0 flight.

Offline seruriermarshal

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #829 on: 09/18/2018 03:33 am »
First, 1st stage engine test at our new engine test facility in Arizona.

https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/1041789850108735488

Offline Mardlamock

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #830 on: 09/18/2018 11:43 pm »
First, 1st stage engine test at our new engine test facility in Arizona.

https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/1041789850108735488

I wonder what's the longest burn time they've achieved...

What a frakking joke
"And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder"

Offline ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #831 on: 09/19/2018 05:29 am »
First, 1st stage engine test at our new engine test facility in Arizona.

https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/1041789850108735488

Ocotober 2018, just a few days away.
« Last Edit: 09/20/2018 10:40 am by ringsider »

Offline ethan829

Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #832 on: 09/19/2018 06:42 pm »
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1042482999097548801
Quote
Greg Orndorff, Vector: planning a suborbital test flight of our Block 0 test vehicle this Friday in Mojave. Then start orbital launches from Kodiak, Alaska; awaiting FAA license. #AIAASpace

Offline ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #833 on: 09/20/2018 10:53 am »
Well, well, well, look at who is very, very quietly, (with zero PR - extremely unusual for Vector) raising more money with convertible loan notes:-

https://www.crunchbase.com/funding_round/vector-space-convertible-note--dc3e2c64

What's very interesting is the date: March 2018.  Why would they need more money that soon after they closed a $21m round in June 2017?


Online Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #834 on: 09/20/2018 12:10 pm »
Greg also showed us a price list today.

Thanks. I've rotated, enhanced and enlarged the image.

Vehicle    Vector-R  Vector-H
Price        $1.5M    $4.5M
500 km SSO   33 kg    203 kg
500 km 38°   53 kg    260 kg
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #835 on: 09/21/2018 09:13 pm »
What happened to B0.003? Has this flight been cancelled?

I think this is the B0.003 flight.  Maybe the paperwork has the model number instead of serial number?  This permit is for a suborbital Block 0 flight.
B0.003 is launching from FAR the launch afterwards is from LP3 Pad-C at PSC-A.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #836 on: 09/23/2018 08:39 am »
Quote
Second orbital vehicle B1002 coming together @vectorspacesys Tucson facility for launch early 2019

https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1043199849389117440

Quote
We actually didn't have any launches scheduled for this week.  We have a Block 0 vehicle that is going to fly in the next week or two and a Block 1 vehicle flying out of Kodiak Alaska later this year.

https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1043292656967639040

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #837 on: 09/25/2018 01:46 pm »
Interesting to see what Vector is patenting - nothing to do with rockets:

https://patents.justia.com/assignee/vector-launch-inc

I'm no rocket scientist but I think this one awarded 2 weeks ago has some relevance :)

Quote
Enhanced liquid oxygen-propylene rocket engine
Patent number:
10072612
Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to rocket engine components and rocket engine operational techniques. In one example, a rocket engine propellant injection apparatus is provided that includes a manifold formed into a single body by an additive manufacturing process and comprising a fuel cavity and an oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes one or more propellant feed stubs, the one or more propellant feed stubs protruding from the manifold and formed into the single body of the manifold by the additive manufacturing process, with at least a first stub configured to carry fuel to the fuel cavity and at least a second stub configured to carry oxidizer to the oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes a plurality of injection features formed by apertures in a face of the manifold, ones of the plurality of injection features configured to inject the fuel and the oxidizer for combustion.
Type: Grant
Filed: October 4, 2016
Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
Assignee: Vector Launch Inc.
Inventors: Christopher Bostwick, John Garvey, Christopher Anderson, Eric Besnard

Quote
After a decade of testing, propylene rocket fuel may be ready for prime time
Vector has received a patent for its liquid oxygen-propylene rocket engine.

Eric Berger - 9/25/2018, 2:21 PM

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/09/after-a-decade-of-testing-propylene-rocket-fuel-may-be-ready-for-prime-time/

Offline ringsider

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #838 on: 09/30/2018 04:45 pm »
Interesting: Jimmy is positioning Firefly as a "foreign" competitor:-

https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1044608042296176640


Offline Asteroza

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Re: Vector Space Systems
« Reply #839 on: 10/01/2018 01:23 am »
Interesting: Jimmy is positioning Firefly as a "foreign" competitor:-

https://twitter.com/jamesncantrell/status/1044608042296176640

Not unless they are squeaky clean ITAR-free they ain't.

Right now in the smallsat launcher race, it looks like ITAR-free means chinese, japanese, and maybe something european. With the whole chinese one belt road initiatives and various pushes into africa, one should expect more african launches on chinese launchers once they have a bit of a track record. I'm honestly somewhat surprised there hasn't been some news about chinese startups renting Alcantara.

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