Author Topic: Interorbital Systems Flights (Read 80106 times)

Bart J · « **Reply #100 on:** 11/02/2017 06:33 am »

Interorbital are a lot like Virgin Galactic: they've been a few months away from launching satellites/passengers since 2008.

However, progress is slowly being made, and eventually both SpaceShipTwo and Neptune will go ahead, hopefully.

billh · « **Reply #101 on:** 11/28/2017 01:24 pm »

Someone on Facebook posted a link to this video of an Interorbital machine winding carbon fiber overwrap on a pressure vessel. It was stated that the machine was entirely developed (hardware and software) by Interorbital.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #102 on:** 02/25/2018 11:22 pm »

Quote

Liquid Upper Stage Static Test 5.16.2018

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #103 on:** 07/09/2018 06:25 am »

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #104 on:** 07/10/2018 06:27 am »

Press release that went with that.

http://www.interorbital.com/News%20Stories/NEPTUNE%20Liquid%20Upper-Stage%20Engine%20Flight%20Test%20063018

"NEPTUNE Liquid Upper-Stage Engine Flight Test 1
June 30, 201

The IOS rocket team successfully completed a low-altitude flight-test of its orbital vehicle's liquid upper-stage rocket engine (GPRE 0.75KNTA). The engine was integrated into an IOS NEUTRINO sounding rocket. An improved main valve unit was installed that increased the propellant flow, boosting the engine performance higher than was achieved during static ground tests. The rocket generated 10 Gs on takeoff with a thrust of 900-lbs (4003.4-newtons) and a specific impulse of 248-sec.

The ablatively-cooled rocket engine is powered by the hypergolic combination of White Fuming Nitric Acid (WFNA) and Turpentine/Furfuryl Alcohol. These high-density storable auto-igniting propellants power all IOS liquid rocket engines. This propellant combination generates a distinctive bright hydrocarbon plume similar to LOX/Kerosene. Interorbital's N1 and N2 orbital launch vehicles employ two GPRE 0.75KNTA engines for their second stage and a single GPRE 0.75KNTA engine for their third stage.

The test launch carried three commercial payloads: All were recovered with the rocket by parachute and came back alive and functioning. Boreal Space of NASA Ames Research Center flew its Wayfinder hosted payload technology that contained experiments from Stanford University's Extreme Environments Lab, as well as a Graphene experiment from the University of Singapore.

During the flight the NEUTRINO rocket achieved its expected altitude and the recovery system worked as designed. The rocket was successfully recovered and is being readied for a high-altitude test launch scheduled for sometime in the next few weeks."

billh · « **Reply #105 on:** 07/10/2018 11:35 pm »

In the video it looked like the parachute didn't open completely, but the press release suggests otherwise. Perhaps it wasn't a conventional parachute?

ringsider · « **Reply #106 on:** 07/12/2018 06:04 am »

That was actually a much better launch / recovery than anything Vector has done to date, and it looked like the engine was a similar size/power.

On the other hand, Interorbital doesn't have a sponsored Porsche racing team for their CEO to play with.

Olaf · « **Reply #107 on:** 11/06/2018 05:37 pm »

https://twitter.com/interorbital/status/1059592567480700928

Tywin · « **Reply #108 on:** 07/15/2019 05:26 pm »

Something move!!!

https://twitter.com/interorbital/status/1150812623685861376

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #109 on:** 07/16/2019 08:37 am »

Quote from: Tywin on 07/15/2019 05:26 pm

Something move!!!

twitter.com/interorbital/status/1150812623685861376

Maybe not. That's the same vehicle from their 29 March 2014 launch, which was only a partial success.

http://www.interorbital.com/News%20Stories/CPM%20TV%20Launch

meberbs · « **Reply #110 on:** 07/17/2019 12:10 am »

Quote from: Mr. Scott on 07/16/2019 11:42 pm

Is this NASA announcement (16 July) the same as an "Interorbital" system? Or is this a new category for NASA point-to-point commercial passenger flights via LEO?

https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f9769ca109ec1326e29364f6bb1b5b79&tab=core&tabmode=list&=

"Interorbital Systems" is the name of a company with aspirations to launch small satellites, and is the topic of this thread.

The solicitation you linked has nothing to do with this company or point-to-point transportation, it is about commercial habitats in space as a potential follow on to the ISS. It either belongs in its own thread, or can continue being discussed in the existing thread on ISS commercialization which includes both that solicitation and other related activities.

Edit: found that other thread

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #111 on:** 10/30/2019 02:48 am »

"NEWS FLASH: Interorbital Systems invest $1.5 million into Moody Space Centre in the form of a rocket and systems support. This is a huge step forward for both of us and promises to bear fruit. #moodyspacecentre #space #interorbitalsystems"

https://www.facebook.com/moodyspacecentre/photos/a.286063101582026/1264016207120039/?type=3&theater

Moody Space Centre website. They are planning on setting up a launch site at Rockhampton, Queensland.

https://sites.google.com/view/moodyspaceccentre-infopage/home?authuser=0

CameronD · « **Reply #112 on:** 10/30/2019 11:18 pm »

Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 10/30/2019 02:48 am

Moody Space Centre website. They are planning on setting up a launch site at Rockhampton, Queensland.

https://sites.google.com/view/moodyspaceccentre-infopage/home?authuser=0

Fuel: WFNA and Turpentine! - what are the chances they'll actually get this off the ground?!? Surely GBRMPA (and other powers that be) wouldn't be too pleased about toxic rocket parts impacting the Great Barrier Reef.. not to mention the rather busy shipping lanes.

Are they still aiming to launch from Rockhampton next year?

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #113 on:** 10/31/2019 03:03 am »

From the Moody Space Centre Facebook thread, the rocket is arriving by late 2020 by ship.

QuantumG · « **Reply #114 on:** 10/31/2019 04:08 am »

Quote from: CameronD on 10/30/2019 11:18 pm

what are the chances they'll actually get this off the ground?!?

See thread title.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #115 on:** 12/16/2019 04:27 am »

Interview with John Moody announcing $1.5M investment from Interorbital Systems to the Moody Space Centre in Queensland. This includes a rocket, ground system, guidance system and launch system. Its a full setup to launch rockets. They are looking for additional investors. Launch site is in Rockhampton. Also had interest from STAR Industries from New Zealand, founded by an ex-Rocketlab employee, and Paragon Space Development Corporation from the US.

QuantumG · « **Reply #116 on:** 12/16/2019 05:52 am »

Svetoslav · « **Reply #117 on:** 01/27/2020 03:37 pm »

Greetings,

I never imagined I'll write in this thread, but... here I am

Last year a British startup company launched on KickStarter the ambitious project AmbaSat. The project is very similar to the KickSat initiative which was launched on KickStarter in 2011... and eventually succeeded in 2019. The concept is the same : a dispenser in the shape of 3U CubeSat is about to send to space hundreds of personal Chipsats.

The KickStarter initiative was very successful, it met the funding goal. Now, a lot of us - myself included - have ordered our own ChipSat satellite, and we have reserved a rocket launch slot.

The launch partner of AmbaSat is Interorbital system. According to the latest blogpost, the project is already on the flight manifest of Interorbital (link here: https://ambasat.com/happy-new-year-and-official-launch-manifest-listing/ )

According to the official description, Interorbital was chosen because it is the "world's lowest-cost access to space". That's why the project was affordable to everybody.

I'm quite excited to be part of this project, and I am hoping for eventual success!

TrevorMonty · « **Reply #118 on:** 01/27/2020 04:13 pm »

Good luck with launch, just don't expect one anytime soon. IOS have been at it for very long time and still no orbital launch. On plus side they are flying some suborbital hardware, which is better than lot of their competitors.

Your chipsat should have charged bit more and gone with existing launch provider, plenty rideshare options for 3U.

Svetoslav · « **Reply #119 on:** 01/27/2020 04:42 pm »

Thanks! I am personally prepared for a long wait, and have supported AmbaSat regardless of when they will launch. But I can speak only for myself. I'm willing to be patient. Space is hard, but it's also slow

You are right that it would have been possible for them to choose a more expensive launch option aboard an operational rocket. But then it would have been beyond the ability of at least some of us to pay for it.

It is good that initiatives like these exist. They give us hope that space would soon be affordable to those of us who aren't millionaires. I am thinking about ChipSats as the Poor Man's Space Program. To me (but again, I am speaking only about myself), I'd be happy if I just have a satellite that reaches the launch pad and then lifts off - even if it later doesn't make it to orbit. It would be very inspirational to me and I guess to some people around me who will be inspired by what I am doing. We have to start from somewhere - and my hope is that space will become even more affordable in the future.