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#1400
by
CameronD
on 25 Jun, 2018 23:49
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Electron is an odd case, being developed in New Zealand by an American-based company. It's really a joint American-New Zealand project. Since it's being operated in New Zealand by an American company, it's going to be regulated by both countries.
So, why is this question so important? Shouldn't we be discussing the rocket instead of trivia?
Just to clear up any misconceptions:
Electron is an odd case, because it
was developed in New Zealand by a New Zealand company using American assistance. Peter Beck and his team had Electron designed and at least one prototype built long before the American-based company called "Rocketlab USA" existed. For technology support, regulatory and a few other reasons the New Zealand company is now American-based. That's what makes it "really a joint American-New Zealand project."
Why is this question so important? Because it indicates to those of us outside of the continental United States that it IS indeed possible to develop a sucessful indigenous launch capability within a rapidly-developing regulatory minefield whilst highlighting both (a) the size and location of a few of the mines and (b) the path they used to navigate around them.
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#1401
by
docmordrid
on 11 Jul, 2018 02:27
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#1402
by
ZachS09
on 11 Jul, 2018 13:29
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My best guess is that in August, Rocket Lab will choose to launch from Cape Canaveral.
Not sure which area on the Cape they'll use for LC-2.
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#1403
by
Toner Soprano
on 05 Aug, 2018 17:57
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Peter Beck had another interview on TMRO space. Link to video:
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#1404
by
edkyle99
on 05 Aug, 2018 18:28
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My best guess is that in August, Rocket Lab will choose to launch from Cape Canaveral.
Not sure which area on the Cape they'll use for LC-2.
Cape Canaveral already has an "LC 2".
http://www.robsv.com/cape/c1.html - Ed Kyle
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#1405
by
Comga
on 06 Aug, 2018 00:46
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Peter Beck had another interview on TMRO space. Link to video:
What I was most hoping to hear was a timeframe for the next launch.
Beck’s reticence to give one was only surpassed only by his smiling refusal to disclose Curie’s mystery green propellant.
We will just have to “stay tuned.”
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#1406
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 15 Aug, 2018 07:39
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#1407
by
CameronD
on 16 Aug, 2018 01:08
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Yet another set of engines roll off the production line, looks like the team might beat our 100 engine target for this year.
https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1029617348234293254
Now all they have to do is launch them..
The way they've hung the flag from the roof looks exactly the same as the one at SpaceX. Is this just something you guys just do in factories over there to remind you which country you're in - or should we read more into it?
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#1408
by
edkyle99
on 16 Aug, 2018 02:17
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#1409
by
envy887
on 16 Aug, 2018 02:56
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#1410
by
Michael Bloxham
on 20 Sep, 2018 07:29
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Hey guys. When I was looking at the limitations of SpaceX launch sites on another thread, the thought occurred to me: Could SpaceX one day fly out from Mahia, NZ? Distance from LA to Cape Canaveral or Brownsville is about 9000km by barge via the panama canal. NZ is about 10,000km from LA. So, roughly the same. Forgive me if this has been asked before. :-)
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#1411
by
mn
on 20 Sep, 2018 14:42
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Hey guys. When I was looking at the limitations of SpaceX launch sites on another thread, the thought occurred to me: Could SpaceX one day fly out from Mahia, NZ? Distance from LA to Cape Canaveral or Brownsville is about 9000km by barge via the panama canal. NZ is about 10,000km from LA. So, roughly the same. Forgive me if this has been asked before. :-)
I'm pretty sure SpaceX transports their vehicles by land, (ok, except for returning landed stages).
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#1412
by
Zed_Noir
on 21 Sep, 2018 00:11
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Hey guys. When I was looking at the limitations of SpaceX launch sites on another thread, the thought occurred to me: Could SpaceX one day fly out from Mahia, NZ? Distance from LA to Cape Canaveral or Brownsville is about 9000km by barge via the panama canal. NZ is about 10,000km from LA. So, roughly the same. Forgive me if this has been asked before. :-)
Not likely. Think SpaceX will operated an Oceanic ASDS out of Wellington Harbour if they established P2P service to NZ.
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#1413
by
Michael Bloxham
on 21 Sep, 2018 07:07
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I'm pretty sure SpaceX transports their vehicles by land, (ok, except for returning landed stages).
I'm pretty sure the BFR will be transported by sea... It's a very large vehicle, so it has to go the long way via the Panama Canal.
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#1414
by
Michael Bloxham
on 21 Sep, 2018 07:15
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I don't know the exact travel times from LA to the cape via Panama. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is actually *quicker* to get to NZ from LA. There's no canal to slow you down.
But would a Mahia launch site provide any advantages over Cape Canaveral or Brownsville? Less sea and air traffic to worry about? Less bureaucracy?
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#1415
by
Rik ISS-fan
on 21 Sep, 2018 23:12
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Another slightly O.T. post. Electron is using Elertric Pumpfeed Rutherforth engines. The batteries have a considerable weight during launch. I think battery mass limits their launch capability. So their launch capability will increase with advancement in battery technology.
But what if they want to increase launch capability faster than battery technology advances?
- Could they go for a hybrid system, aka replacing the batteries with a small combustion generator?
- Or could they develop Rutherfords into a pressure feed engines, that are feed by a shared turbo-pump assembly?
I know Rocketlabs wants to keep Electron small and cheap. My thoughts are for a slightly larger more capable launcher that will be the second launch vehicle for Rocketlabs.
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#1416
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 22 Sep, 2018 04:25
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Well, maybe they can have a HTP turbine driving an electric generator!
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#1417
by
speedevil
on 22 Sep, 2018 10:25
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Another slightly O.T. post. Electron is using Elertric Pumpfeed Rutherforth engines. The batteries have a considerable weight during launch. I think battery mass limits their launch capability.
It doesn't.
The battery mass is not a critical factor.
The high ISP pretty much totally makes up for it, as well as the fact you can drop batteries as they are used.
A worked estimate comparing replacing F9 engines with Rutherford.
It is arguable for that case, counting battery and possibly engine module jettisoning that the penalty to GTO is less than one ton.
T:W is 30, not 170, yes. But, remember that for the first stage, you need to add 10 tons to have a 1 ton impact on payload.
And also that most of the first stage is not engines, even at T:W of 30.
Pumped rockets may also let you throw away a lot of subsystems and make some things easier - see above thread.
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#1418
by
gongora
on 22 Sep, 2018 12:57
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I don't know the exact travel times from LA to the cape via Panama. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is actually *quicker* to get to NZ from LA. There's no canal to slow you down.
But would a Mahia launch site provide any advantages over Cape Canaveral or Brownsville? Less sea and air traffic to worry about? Less bureaucracy?
This is not a SpaceX thread. The Mahia launch site was built and is operated by Rocket Lab for their small launch vehicles. If you think SpaceX needs to look for more launch sites please use one of the threads in the SpaceX section.
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#1419
by
Comga
on 22 Sep, 2018 22:25
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I don't know the exact travel times from LA to the cape via Panama. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is actually *quicker* to get to NZ from LA. There's no canal to slow you down.
But would a Mahia launch site provide any advantages over Cape Canaveral or Brownsville? Less sea and air traffic to worry about? Less bureaucracy?
This is not a SpaceX thread. The Mahia launch site was built and is operated by Rocket Lab for their small launch vehicles. If you think SpaceX needs to look for more launch sites please use one of the threads in the SpaceX section.
What gongora said...
I was SO hoping a post in this thread was a new launch date but it’s just chatter.
Frankly for an outfit that talks about hitting an operational pace one month after launch #2 this very long delay with no reason information doesn’t inspire confidence.
It’s downright concerning.
And hey, I know Rocketlabs has no interest in our being confident but it’s still odd.
If they have projected a date fit their customers why keep it confidential?
Surely the are as unconcerned with disappointing the public as they are unconcerned with informing us?
And if they still can’t set a date, whatever could the issue be?