Author Topic: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility  (Read 14458 times)

Offline Davidthefat

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #20 on: 10/16/2018 02:12 pm »
Also consider that RL's biggest competitor right now (for the time being) is Virgin Orbit, that is backed by a billionaire, has a massive facility that's fully operational, and has the pool of talent from other companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and other aerospace companies in the area designing and manufacturing their launch vehicles.

I don't think RL has the convenience of going slow or to play catch up later when they are planning off on getting a dozen launches off next year.

Thinking about it, that same criticism can be said for Virgin: why have this massive facility making multiple vehicles if they haven't let one off yet? Kind of a concern troll IMHO.

Offline Scylla

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #21 on: 10/21/2018 02:31 pm »
Exclusive look inside the world's newest rocket factory!
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I reject your reality and substitute my own--Doctor Who

Offline meekGee

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #22 on: 10/22/2018 03:51 am »
I'll say this much...  I am not terribly optimistic about the business future of launching microsats one at a time using expendable rockets, but of the serious contenders, my money is on these guys.

They are easily the most innovative (electric pump, composite structure) and they just have an ooomph reminiscent of SpaceX - a highly technical CEO who's leading the design.  Comparably speaking, much more rocket, much less PR BS.

ABCD - Always Be Counting Down

Offline Scylla

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #23 on: 11/02/2018 05:38 pm »
Sit down interview with Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck
Everyday Astronaut

Published on Nov 2, 2018
I had an amazing 80 minute sit down interview with the one and only Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. This man is brilliant and it was so much fun to pick his brain.
« Last Edit: 11/02/2018 05:41 pm by Scylla »
I reject your reality and substitute my own--Doctor Who

Offline TrevorMonty

Sit down interview with Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck
Everyday Astronaut

Published on Nov 2, 2018
I had an amazing 80 minute sit down interview with the one and only Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. This man is brilliant and it was so much fun to pick his brain.

This is excellent interview with lots of new info.

Late in the interview they talked about aerospike engines, RL did play with them at one stage.
« Last Edit: 11/05/2018 07:05 pm by TrevorMonty »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline TrevorMonty

Sit down interview with Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck
Everyday Astronaut

Published on Nov 2, 2018
I had an amazing 80 minute sit down interview with the one and only Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. This man is brilliant and it was so much fun to pick his brain.

This is excellent interview with lots of new info.

Late in the interview they talked a out aerospike engines, RL did play with them at   one stage.
We want would rather see them fly off pad.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #27 on: 01/08/2019 06:37 am »
https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1082415960865173505

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Ringing in 2019 with new rockets rolling off the production line and down to the pad.

Offline Lar

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #28 on: 01/09/2019 01:41 am »
Needs something in the pic for scale. (not a banana, that's reddit level humor)
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #30 on: 11/13/2019 05:31 pm »
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1194673881715396608

Quote
Meet Rosie. She processes Electron's composite stages in just 12 hours.

Offline TrevorMonty

Thought it actually made stages but after 2nd looks seems like stages a built elsewhere. Rosie does all drilling and machining.

There are methods of 3d printing carbon fibre, not sure how they do it.

As time goes on I'd expect more processes will be automated.

Offline LtWigglesworth

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #32 on: 11/14/2019 01:52 am »
Thought it actually made stages but after 2nd looks seems like stages a built elsewhere. Rosie does all drilling and machining.

There are methods of 3d printing carbon fibre, not sure how they do it.

As time goes on I'd expect more processes will be automated.

The actual structure probably isn't best suited for 3D printing in carbon, after all its just a tube with bulkheads. There are already plenty of methods of wrapping mandrels which are probably already highly automated.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rocket Lab unveils new high-volume production facility
« Reply #33 on: 12/09/2019 07:22 pm »
Now on YouTube

« Last Edit: 12/09/2019 07:23 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

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