Dates!
Indeed. This is getting exciting again.
Have they announced that they have done/will do a WDR and/or static fire yet? That will go a long way in confirming the creditability of this fligh's date.
Also I thought that they cannot launch deep in winter due to weather constraints?
Have they announced that they have done/will do a WDR and/or static fire yet? That will go a long way in confirming the creditability of this fligh's date.
Also I thought that they cannot launch deep in winter due to weather constraints?
Well, they're not going to be doing anything for a little while yet:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92452373/doublewhammy-marks-round-four-for-bad-weatherThe access road is dirt, remember? Even after the storms clear, they still have to get to the site.
Have they announced that they have done/will do a WDR and/or static fire yet? That will go a long way in confirming the creditability of this fligh's date.
Also I thought that they cannot launch deep in winter due to weather constraints?
Well, they're not going to be doing anything for a little while yet:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92452373/doublewhammy-marks-round-four-for-bad-weather
The access road is dirt, remember? Even after the storms clear, they still have to get to the site.
But what to make of the notice to mariners a few posts above?
But what to make of the notice to mariners a few posts above?
If we know anything about the guy at all, Mr Beck would have to be one of the world's greatest optimists.
One thing that holds true about that part of the world is this: If you don't like the weather, come back in 10 minutes. My guess is they're hoping the weather will clear away long enough and everything dry out enough to get some testing done.
http://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-sets-date-for-first-electron-launch/
Rocket Lab sets date for first Electron launch
Rocket Lab, the U.S.-New Zealand company developing the Electron small launch vehicle, plans to carry out its first flight in a window that opens May 21.
The company announced May 14 that a 10-day window for the first Electron launch, which the company has dubbed “It’s a Test,” will open at 5 p.m. Eastern May 21 (9 a.m. local time May 22) from the company’s launch site at Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island.
........
The launch, as the company’s name for it emphasizes, is a test flight, with no satellite payload on board. The launch is the first of three such test flights Rocket Lab plans before beginning commercial launches later this year.
Rocket Lab plans to carry out the launch largely out of public view. The company said a press kit about the mission that there will be no public viewing sites in the vicinity of its New Zealand launch site for this mission. There are also no plans to webcast the launch, although the company said it will provide video footage “following a successful launch.”
I wish them well. My money is still on September.
No FAA license yet ..?
Nothing published but it could be authorized. They do need one in my opinion, also to operate the launch site - US firm on a US-controlled launch site.
No FAA license yet ..?
Nothing published but it could be authorized. They do need one in my opinion, also to operate the launch site - US firm on a US-controlled launch site.
Hmm. I'm not a lawyer so I'm unclear on this. If it's being done by their New Zealand subsidiary, is it US-controlled?
The operational engines being built in California would need an export license to NZ, but if RL NZ is building the rockets and operating the site, it's not immediately clear to me that the fact the company is ulimately owned by RL US puts it under US jurisdiction. Anyone clarify?
No FAA license yet ..?
Nothing published but it could be authorized. They do need one in my opinion, also to operate the launch site - US firm on a US-controlled launch site.
Hmm. I'm not a lawyer so I'm unclear on this. If it's being done by their New Zealand subsidiary, is it US-controlled?
The operational engines being built in California would need an export license to NZ, but if RL NZ is building the rockets and operating the site, it's not immediately clear to me that the fact the company is ulimately owned by RL US puts it under US jurisdiction. Anyone clarify?
NZ company is a 100% subsidiary of the US Inc. It's almost all public information:-
https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1835428?backurl=%2Fcompanies%2Fapp%2Fui%2Fpages%2Fcompanies%
2Fsearch%3Fmode%3Dstandard%26type%3Dentities%26q%3DRocket%2520lab
No FAA license yet ..?
Nothing published but it could be authorized. They do need one in my opinion, also to operate the launch site - US firm on a US-controlled launch site.
Hmm. I'm not a lawyer so I'm unclear on this. If it's being done by their New Zealand subsidiary, is it US-controlled?
The operational engines being built in California would need an export license to NZ, but if RL NZ is building the rockets and operating the site, it's not immediately clear to me that the fact the company is ulimately owned by RL US puts it under US jurisdiction. Anyone clarify?
I'm not a lawyer either, but there's no way to tell. They are definitely "US Persons" under the US commercial space launch laws. But that doesn't guarantee that a launch from foreign soil must be under US jurisdiction, only that the US government
can assert jurisdiction. The law makes it so that a US Person can't decide to launch from the territory of Bananastan, who's government only cares about filling their pockets, and thereby effectively skirt oversight. But, if launching from the territory of a responsible government, like NZ, then that government could oversee and it would be okay. So, based on US law, there's no way to tell.
No FAA license yet ..?
Nothing published but it could be authorized. They do need one in my opinion, also to operate the launch site - US firm on a US-controlled launch site.
Hmm. I'm not a lawyer so I'm unclear on this. If it's being done by their New Zealand subsidiary, is it US-controlled?
The operational engines being built in California would need an export license to NZ, but if RL NZ is building the rockets and operating the site, it's not immediately clear to me that the fact the company is ulimately owned by RL US puts it under US jurisdiction. Anyone clarify?
I'm not a lawyer either, but there's no way to tell. They are definitely "US Persons" under the US commercial space launch laws. But that doesn't guarantee that a launch from foreign soil is under US jurisdiction, only that the US can assert jurisdiction. The law makes it so that a US Person can't decide to launch from the territory of Bananastan, who's government only cares about filling their pockets, and thereby effectively skirt oversight. But, if launching from the territory of a responsible government, like NZ, then that government could oversee and it would be okay. So, based on US law, there's no way to tell.
This is actually simple. Under the UN Outer Space Treaty each nation is responsible and liable for any damages caused by the actions of it's citizens / corporations with regard to space launches and space-based activities.
The ultimate party here is the US incorporated company, and the majority US-based investors in that company. So, since this is a US-domiciled vehicle, the US is liable for any damages, and it asserts regulatory control over all activities.
Employees or subsidiaries of any other nation are assumed to be subordinate to the ultimate controlling party. NZ could in principle insist on a double licence but in practice they are quite happy to let the US take the weight because NASA / FAA.
There is a practical crosscheck for majority US ownership even if you don't know the shareholders (I do because either is on the internet, but even so) - RL USA won an SBIR grant for $99k to investigate AFTS. Can't get those without majority US ownership.
Got one extra pic from instagram
Well at least they have it pointed in the right direction
Let's hope the gyros are 
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
