-
#1360
by
john smith 19
on 13 Apr, 2018 18:52
-
200um solid particles are terrible to valves. Slurry propellants are experimental since 1940s but not operational up to now.
Operational green monopropellants (aside of HTP) are usually ADN or HAN based solutions, e.g. AF-M315E.
Indeed, like their cousins, gel propellants. Often proposed but never quite worth the extra effort.
That said I'm thinking some kind of valve seal that (somehow) squeezes out the remaining droplets?
Some sort of "roll" seal?
-
#1361
by
gongora
on 14 Apr, 2018 21:10
-
It says proprietary, but it's been sitting out on the FCC's public database for four months. Rocket Lab put an Iridium radio on their third stage.
-
#1362
by
speedevil
on 14 Apr, 2018 23:10
-
One thing I've not seen considered would be a reciprocating pump with 2 chambers driven by a single solenoid, possibly as a resonant system. I think modern power electronics is up to the job.
Solenoids are terrible in terms of weight and power efficiency.
They are basically a motor, optimised for simplicity, disregarding everything else.
In almost all applications they've been displaced by geared motors, for this reason.
Basically a motor is a solenoid, it's just optimised for tiny gaps where solenoids are most efficient, and zero accelerating parts, and pulls rotationally, not linearly. The fact you can gear it so that ten thousand 'pulls' are used instead of one big one means you can shrink the mass by around ten thousand times.
-
#1363
by
Katana
on 15 Apr, 2018 14:08
-
200um solid particles are terrible to valves. Slurry propellants are experimental since 1940s but not operational up to now.
Operational green monopropellants (aside of HTP) are usually ADN or HAN based solutions, e.g. AF-M315E.
Indeed, like their cousins, gel propellants. Often proposed but never quite worth the extra effort.
That said I'm thinking some kind of valve seal that (somehow) squeezes out the remaining droplets?
Some sort of "roll" seal?
Ball valves work this way, they are better for the job.
-
#1364
by
gongora
on 21 Apr, 2018 02:49
-
Not sure if this has been posted before. There was some earlier information that Rocket Lab had a SBIRS contract to test AFTS on its initial flight, this just gives a little more detail on the source of the AFTS:
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2013-0259-1612More specifically, Rocket Lab will be carrying onboard the Electron launch vehicle on its inaugural launch a flight test experiment for NASA Kennedy Space Center which will improve public risk mitigation capabilities from an errant launch vehicle. This component is designed and manufactured by NASA KSC and is part of the independent safety system which will be installed on the launch vehicles. This safety system will be capable of determining if the flight of the launch vehicle will pose an unacceptable increased risk to the public based on mission rules designed for its unique vehicle and flight characteristics and programmed into the safety system and terminate the flight of such launch vehicle. This type of capability is in public interest because this safety system will allow for improved protection of the public from mishaps resulting from flight of errant launch vehicles.
-
#1365
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 21 Apr, 2018 08:55
-
-
#1366
by
Nomadd
on 24 Apr, 2018 13:26
-
Is "maybe in May" still the best launch estimate? I'm going to be wandering around NZ that month.
-
#1367
by
russianhalo117
on 24 Apr, 2018 23:37
-
Is "maybe in May" still the best launch estimate? I'm going to be wandering around NZ that month.
Visible Area is closed to non residents during launches. However i understand that they are mulling about building visitor viewing area in the future. There is information on there website (
Mahia Information | Rocket Lab) regarding accessible areas. Closure information for road and such is posted about a week before launch.
-
#1368
by
TrevorMonty
on 25 Apr, 2018 18:38
-
Is "maybe in May" still the best launch estimate? I'm going to be wandering around NZ that month.
Visible Area is closed to non residents during launches. However i understand that they are mulling about building visitor viewing area in the future. There is information on there website regarding accessible areas.
No landbased public viewing options yet. Your best option at present is from water if anybody is offering viewing charters.
Worth visiting outside launch dates just to see how rugged and remote this launch location is. Just remember to keep left on those gravel roads, or you might run into RL employee.
-
#1369
by
Chris Bergin
on 25 Apr, 2018 23:01
-
A release to the media:
Rocket Lab integrates payloads for first ever NASA Venture Class Launch Services Mission
Huntington Beach, California and Auckland, New Zealand. April 25, 2018:
Rocket Lab and NASA have carried out the integration of the CubeSat payloads scheduled to launch on the Electron rocket in the first half of 2018 for NASA’s first ever Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) mission. The flight will constitute the smallest class of dedicated launch services used by NASA and marks a significant milestone for Rocket Lab in providing such access to space for a NASA-sponsored mission of small satellites.
The launch is manifested with innovative research and development payloads from NASA and educational institutions that will conduct a wide variety of new, on-orbit science. Applications of the CubeSats booked on the mission include research such as measuring radiation in the Van Allen belts to understand their impact on spacecraft, through to monitoring space weather.
“We’re incredibly excited to be launching NASA’s first Venture Class mission,” says Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “The VCLS contract by NASA’s Launch Services Program is very forward-thinking and a direct response to the small satellite industry’s changing needs for rapid and repeatable access to orbit. The oversight NASA has provided as part of this contract has been tremendously valuable for us.”
Big ideas used to require big rockets, but thanks to the miniaturization of technology, the small satellites of today can conduct innovative science that helps us better understand the Earth and our universe. Before Rocket Lab’s Electron vehicle, launch opportunities for small satellites were mostly limited to rideshare-type arrangements on large launch vehicles, flying only when space was available on NASA and other launches. This can be impractical for some small satellite payloads, as they are at the mercy of the primary payload’s schedule and desired orbit. Rocket Lab’s Electron is the only private, small launch vehicle currently flying to orbit and offering the dedicated flights tailored to these small payloads.
“Venture Class launches are about freeing small satellite payloads from the barriers they currently face in trying to access space on larger launch platforms as secondary payloads. It’s fantastic to see NASA enabling this change and embracing private small launch vehicles like Electron,” adds Mr. Beck.
Ten CubeSats manifested on the mission are receiving their access to space through a NASA initiative called the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) and are part of the 19th Educational Launch of Nanosatellites, or ELaNa-19. The program recognizes that CubeSats are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research and educational investigations. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for both research and commercial applications, including planetary space exploration; Earth observation; Earth and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications and autonomous movement capabilities.
The recent payload integration process, which took place at Rocket Lab USA’s facility in Huntington Beach, California, involves conducting final spacecraft checks and preparations before the CubeSats are loaded into dispensers that protect the payloads during launch, then deploy them from the Electron vehicle once in low Earth orbit. The integrated payloads will be shipped to New Zealand for mating onto the Electron launch vehicle in coming weeks, before a launch from Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch facility, Launch Complex 1.
-
#1370
by
catdlr
on 26 Apr, 2018 04:40
-
Maybe NASA TV will be covering this and other VCLS from NZ.
-
#1371
by
deruch
on 05 May, 2018 06:52
-
In mid April (the 12th) RocketLab's FAA launch license was revised for the second time.
Originally issued on 2017-05-15 and good for 2 years, it covered 3 Electron launches of inert payloads from the Mahia Peninsula launch site and along a flight azimuth of 174
o (limits them to polar/SSO orbit launches).
Revision 1: Effected 2017-11-30 in the run up to launch #2. It changed the license terms to allow flying of multiple, paying customer payloads on the 2 remaining flights instead of just an inert payload each time.
Revision 2: Effected 2018-04-12. It removes the 3 launch limit from the license and allows an unspecified number of Electron flights along a launch azimuth of 176
o (minor change from previous azimuth, but still only going to polar orbits). It also added ~7.5 months to the term length of the license which now expires 2018-12-31 instead of in mid-May. Lastly, some "Special Reporting Requirements" were added/modified (I don't have a copy of the previous version to see exactly what the change was and it's not specified in the revision notes).
Direct link to .pdf of the new FAA license
-
#1372
by
ringsider
on 14 May, 2018 19:02
-
Look what I found - Rocket Lab's half tank test stand:
If you don't recognize it, it's this:-
Found these a while back, more than a year ago:
Original Rocket Lab test stand:
This one:
Upgraded new test stand:
-
#1373
by
Lars-J
on 14 May, 2018 19:20
-
What is it?
-
#1374
by
playadelmars
on 15 May, 2018 15:35
-
Has anyone ever figured out why Electron does a first stage hold down acceptance/qualification test prior to flight with a short propellant tank? Just looking back at those test pictures above (and first stage ones too) and wondering why this is.
-
#1375
by
CameronD
on 16 May, 2018 00:41
-
Has anyone ever figured out why Electron does a first stage hold down acceptance/qualification test prior to flight with a short propellant tank? Just looking back at those test pictures above (and first stage ones too) and wondering why this is.
Maybe it's easier to manage? After all, this isn't a WDR or static fire or anything like that: it's an engine test - and rocket fuel doesn't grow on trees. After the test, the engines need to return to Auckland for integration and the whole rocket then shipped to Mahia, so perhaps there's no benefit is using a full-sized prop tank.
-
#1376
by
ringsider
on 26 May, 2018 22:07
-
Rocket Lab is facing some environmental challenge about dumping stages / batteries that might hit whales:
Straterra considers a light-hearted approach has been taken to discussing effects on, for example, marine mammals. While the chances of a whale being hit by space junk must be considered very small, the consequence for any whale that is hit is going to be extreme.
The impact on a pod of migrating whales, e.g., of mothers and suckling calves, from a space junk strike would have a significant impact at the population level of the affected species, as well as on the individuals.
As to space junk narrowly missing marine mammals, one may expect the survivors to suffer psychological trauma (to the extent that this can be determine).
-
#1377
by
russianhalo117
on 26 May, 2018 22:32
-
Rocket Lab is facing some environmental challenge about dumping stages / batteries that might hit whales:
Straterra considers a light-hearted approach has been taken to discussing effects on, for example, marine mammals. While the chances of a whale being hit by space junk must be considered very small, the consequence for any whale that is hit is going to be extreme.
The impact on a pod of migrating whales, e.g., of mothers and suckling calves, from a space junk strike would have a significant impact at the population level of the affected species, as well as on the individuals.
As to space junk narrowly missing marine mammals, one may expect the survivors to suffer psychological trauma (to the extent that this can be determine).
this would probably get thrown out as most stages fail on reentry and are heavily ripped apart on ocean impact. Plus they have had several decades to sue so the statute of limitations, where applicable, would result in the case being thrown out.
-
#1378
by
Comga
on 26 May, 2018 22:47
-
Rocket Lab is facing some environmental challenge about dumping stages / batteries that might hit whales:
Straterra considers a light-hearted approach has been taken to discussing effects on, for example, marine mammals. While the chances of a whale being hit by space junk must be considered very small, the consequence for any whale that is hit is going to be extreme.
The impact on a pod of migrating whales, e.g., of mothers and suckling calves, from a space junk strike would have a significant impact at the population level of the affected species, as well as on the individuals.
As to space junk narrowly missing marine mammals, one may expect the survivors to suffer psychological trauma (to the extent that this can be determine).
Surely this unsourced and specious comment is an irrelevant joke.
Assuming one were to calculate and ignore the extremely minuscule probability of such an occurrence, or the existence of intolerable psychological trauma in marine mammals, can you name an organization who would take action against Rocketlabs?
-
#1379
by
launchwatcher
on 27 May, 2018 00:46
-
Rocket Lab is facing some environmental challenge about dumping stages / batteries that might hit whales:
Straterra considers a light-hearted approach has been taken to discussing effects on, for example, marine mammals. While the chances of a whale being hit by space junk must be considered very small, the consequence for any whale that is hit is going to be extreme.
The impact on a pod of migrating whales, e.g., of mothers and suckling calves, from a space junk strike would have a significant impact at the population level of the affected species, as well as on the individuals.
As to space junk narrowly missing marine mammals, one may expect the survivors to suffer psychological trauma (to the extent that this can be determine).
Surely this unsourced and specious comment is an irrelevant joke.
Assuming one were to calculate and ignore the extremely minuscule probability of such an occurrence, or the existence of intolerable psychological trauma in marine mammals, can you name an organization who would take action against Rocketlabs?
appears to be from
http://www.straterra.co.nz/assets/Straterra-submission-to-MfE-on-proposed-regulation-of-jettisoned-Sept-2016.pdf