Author Topic: Rocket Lab - Wallops facilities (Read 84037 times)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **on:** 10/17/2018 10:09 am »

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1052498157169496065

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #1 on:** 10/17/2018 02:00 pm »

It's Wallops.

Chris Gebhart article:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/10/rocket-lab-us-wallops-first-launch-site-readies-electron-november-launch/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #2 on:** 10/17/2018 02:01 pm »

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1052559822950825985

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 10/17/2018 02:03 pm »

Support at least 12 launches a year. First launch 3rd quarter of next year.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/17/2018 02:06 pm »

It'll look like their current launch site. Support 30 jobs.

(As below).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/17/2018 02:10 pm »

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1052561988847628288

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/17/2018 02:10 pm »

I wonder which location at Wallops they will use. Could it be the old Scout rocket pad?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/17/2018 02:16 pm »

$5m grant and more money incentives from the State.

Peter noted it's a quiet site and allows them to build right now.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/17/2018 02:25 pm »

LC-2 will be within the fenceline of Pad A - south and east.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/17/2018 02:35 pm »

LC-1 will remain the high frequency pad. LC-2 for customers who want to remain in the US and need that inclination.

SkipMorrow · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/17/2018 02:35 pm »

This is awesome! I live two hours from there and usually go to most launches. Well done, MARS team! Rocket Lab, you won't be disappointed.

orulz · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/17/2018 02:59 pm »

Interesting to note that for launches from here, they plan to do vehicle integration (installing engines and avionics) onsite, not just payload integration.

Wouldn't this mean they will need to maintain a separate team on hand at Wallops trained to carry out this part of the manufacturing process? Other concerns aside, it would seem more efficient to have only one such team, so there must be some other concern.

Theory: Maybe the carbon fiber structure of the first stage is small enough and/or durable enough to be transported cheaply from NZ to VA in a standard shipping container on a common container ship, but if the engines/avionics are installed then it becomes either too fragile or too long to fit.

mainmind · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/17/2018 03:14 pm »

So within a year (or two) Wallops will have three operating orbital rockets?

Pad 0A - Antares (up to 2 launches per year?)
Pad 0B - Vector (? launches per year)
Pad ? - Electron (up to 12 launches per year)

That's quite the scaling up of their range capabilities, isn't it?

Firestorm76 · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/17/2018 03:19 pm »

Quote from: orulz on 10/17/2018 02:59 pm

Theory: Maybe the carbon fiber structure of the first stage is small enough and/or durable enough to be transported cheaply from NZ to VA in a standard shipping container on a common container ship, but if the engines/avionics are installed then it becomes either too fragile or too long to fit.

The company is based in California, and they do the manufacturing there. So they only need to truck the rocket across country, once Wallops is up and running.

Great to see more launches coming in the future at Wallops!

- Firestorm76

orulz · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/17/2018 03:20 pm »

Let's not forget Minotaur as well (also 0B)

mainmind · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/17/2018 03:24 pm »

Quote from: orulz on 10/17/2018 03:20 pm

Let's not forget Minotaur as well (also 0B)

Good catch. Sorry.

orulz · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/17/2018 03:27 pm »

Quote from: Firestorm76 on 10/17/2018 03:19 pm

The company is based in California, and they do the manufacturing there. So they only need to truck the rocket across country, once Wallops is up and running.

Great to see more launches coming in the future at Wallops!

- Firestorm76

According to the article (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/10/rocket-lab-us-wallops-first-launch-site-readies-electron-november-launch/), tanks/carbon fiber/structures etc will continue to be built in Auckland NZ, while avionics and engines will continue to be built in California, and the components will be integrated at the launch site for that paricular rocket.

Quote

For Electron launches from New Zealand, the avionics suites and engines will ship from California to New Zealand and be integrated to the propellant tanks and stages at the Auckland, New Zealand, facility before Electron is shipped to its launch location on the Mahia Peninsula.

For launches from the U.S., Electron tanks and stages will be shipped from New Zealand to the launch site at Wallops, its engines and avionics shipped from California to Wallops, with the entire vehicle being integrated at its launch site.

GClark · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/17/2018 03:57 pm »

Quote from: mainmind on 10/17/2018 03:14 pm

So within a year (or two) Wallops will have three operating orbital rockets?

Pad 0A - Antares (up to 2 launches per year?)
Pad 0B - Vector (? launches per year)
Pad ? - Electron (up to 12 launches per year)

That's quite the scaling up of their range capabilities, isn't it?

Vector won't be using Pad 0B - it is strictly for GBI/Minotaur-class solids.

Besides, Vector uses a TEL; all they need is a level asphalt slab.

mainmind · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/17/2018 04:23 pm »

Quote from: GClark on 10/17/2018 03:57 pm

Quote from: mainmind on 10/17/2018 03:14 pm
So within a year (or two) Wallops will have three operating orbital rockets?

Pad 0A - Antares (up to 2 launches per year?)
Pad 0B - Vector (? launches per year)
Pad ? - Electron (up to 12 launches per year)

That's quite the scaling up of their range capabilities, isn't it?

Vector won't be using Pad 0B - it is strictly for GBI/Minotaur-class solids.

Besides, Vector uses a TEL; all they need is a level asphalt slab.

At the risk of going to far off-topic, I'd found the Vector at Pad 0B reference from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Atlantic_Regional_Spaceport_Launch_Pad_0 and this linked article https://spacenews.com/vector-to-perform-first-orbital-launches-from-virginia/
Perhaps all they'll need is the slab but that's the general location that was announced.

TrevorMonty · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/17/2018 04:56 pm »

Quote from: Firestorm76 on 10/17/2018 03:19 pm

Quote from: orulz on 10/17/2018 02:59 pm
Theory: Maybe the carbon fiber structure of the first stage is small enough and/or durable enough to be transported cheaply from NZ to VA in a standard shipping container on a common container ship, but if the engines/avionics are installed then it becomes either too fragile or too long to fit.

The company is based in California, and they do the manufacturing there. So they only need to truck the rocket across country, once Wallops is up and running.

Great to see more launches coming in the future at Wallops!

- Firestorm76

California would need larger building to support final assembly of complete stage. Currently only builds small components ie engines and avionics.

Wallops has to have large building to house stages so it may as well assemble them.
Less chance of vehicle being damaged in shipping, build it and roll it out to pad. No need to check it thoroughly after cross country truck ride.