Quote from: ringsider on 09/17/2016 06:34 pmThe purpose of this Agreement is to preclude unauthorized access to or transfer of technologies associated with the launching from New Zealand of: a. U.S. Launch Vehicles; b. U.S. Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles; c. Foreign Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles; and d. N.Z. Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles. [/i]It isn't a U.S. launch vehicle. It is designed in New Zealand, developed in New Zealand, tested in New Zealand, built in New Zealand, and will be launched in New Zealand by New Zealand citizens. I've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned. The company's U.S. presence (an office in an office park) is, in my view, only due to the source of some venture capital. Perhaps all of those U.S. regulations apply, but I can't for the life of me see why. It would be like the FAA regulating all Proton launches in Kazakhstan because International Launch Services (a Russian-owned company) has an office in Virginia.
The purpose of this Agreement is to preclude unauthorized access to or transfer of technologies associated with the launching from New Zealand of: a. U.S. Launch Vehicles; b. U.S. Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles; c. Foreign Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles; and d. N.Z. Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles. [/i]
this is interesting, maybe Jim -others can chime in on this...Can be encapsulated by the customer, is this new?
Quote from: edkyle99 on 09/17/2016 11:53 pmQuote from: ringsider on 09/17/2016 06:34 pmThe purpose of this Agreement is to preclude unauthorized access to or transfer of technologies associated with the launching from New Zealand of: a. U.S. Launch Vehicles; b. U.S. Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles; c. Foreign Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles; and d. N.Z. Spacecraft by means of U.S. Launch Vehicles. [/i]It isn't a U.S. launch vehicle. It is designed in New Zealand, developed in New Zealand, tested in New Zealand, built in New Zealand, and will be launched in New Zealand by New Zealand citizens. I've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned. The company's U.S. presence (an office in an office park) is, in my view, only due to the source of some venture capital. Perhaps all of those U.S. regulations apply, but I can't for the life of me see why. It would be like the FAA regulating all Proton launches in Kazakhstan because International Launch Services (a Russian-owned company) has an office in Virginia.Rocket Labs doesn't just "have an office" in the U.S. -- it's officially a U.S. company. Their launch vehicle uses U.S. technology that is covered by ITAR. ringsider even gave a specific example of some of that sensitive U.S. technology: "LOX-tolerant CFRP which comes from TenCate, a US corporation".Russia has an extensive aerospace industry, so it could build Proton without any U.S. technology. New Zealand does not have that.
Rocket Labs doesn't just "have an office" in the U.S. -- it's officially a U.S. company.
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 09/18/2016 12:51 amRocket Labs doesn't just "have an office" in the U.S. -- it's officially a U.S. company. "Officially" is just semantics in this case, as far as I'm concerned. Here's their office building. They have rented space on the fifth floor. I'm certain that there's no room for rockets!https://www.pbcenters.com/Regions/Los-Angeles-County/HOWARD-HUGHES-CENTER-office-space-HHC.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=places&utm_campaign=la-howard-hughes - Ed Kyle
I found a slide deck via Google with some very recent shots / details that I don't think have been made public before:-http://usgif.org/system/uploads/4606/original/ROCKET_LAB_INTRO_USGIF.pdfe.g. - 120 employees now, 25% PhD- S1 has a separate power pack at 1M watts- Apogee kick motor- 5 sites incl tracking station- photos of factory and production line
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 09/18/2016 12:51 amRocket Labs doesn't just "have an office" in the U.S. -- it's officially a U.S. company. "Officially" is just semantics in this case, as far as I'm concerned.
It isn't a U.S. launch vehicle. It is designed in New Zealand, developed in New Zealand, tested in New Zealand, built in New Zealand, and will be launched in New Zealand by New Zealand citizens. ... The company's U.S. presence (an office in an office park) is, in my view, only due to the source of some venture capital.
I've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned.
Rocket Labs doesn't just "have an office" in the U.S. -- it's officially a U.S. company. Their launch vehicle uses U.S. technology that is covered by ITAR. ringsider even gave a specific example of some of that sensitive U.S. technology: "LOX-tolerant CFRP which comes from TenCate, a US corporation".
I'm not disputing their legal/licensing status, but that one slide with the statement about how much manufacturing is happening in US doesn't seem right according to other publicly available sources. They simply do not seem have enough people in US to do all of that, or they hid these people well somehow.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 09/17/2016 11:53 pmI've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned. You need to read more. The "big chunks" are propulsion, avionics, GNC and electronics.
Quote from: Prober on 09/17/2016 03:36 pmthis is interesting, maybe Jim -others can chime in on this...Can be encapsulated by the customer, is this new? Not new. Under the DARPA FALCON program AirLaunch LLC developed an "ECE" or Encapsulated Cargo Element that would have been used in the exact same manner.
Quote from: ringsider on 09/18/2016 06:29 amQuote from: edkyle99 on 09/17/2016 11:53 pmI've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned. You need to read more. The "big chunks" are propulsion, avionics, GNC and electronics. Rutherford was developed in New Zealand. What other propulsion is there? - Ed Kyle
Electron? Why not name it something more interesting like Thorondor, lord of the Eagles in Middle Earth during the First Age?
Rutherford was developed in New Zealand.
What other propulsion is there?
Quote from: edkyle99 on 09/18/2016 04:18 pmRutherford was developed in New Zealand. So?
The claim I to which I was responding was that "big chunks" of Electron's propulsion was developed in the United States.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 09/19/2016 03:56 pmThe claim I to which I was responding was that "big chunks" of Electron's propulsion was developed in the United States.That is not what was said.
QuoteQuote from: edkyle99 on 09/17/2016 05:53 PM I've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned. You need to read more. The "big chunks" are propulsion, avionics, GNC and electronics. This is from another slide deck that is out there in the wild:-
Quote from: edkyle99 on 09/17/2016 05:53 PM I've never read about the "big chunks" of U.S. hardware that you mentioned.