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#880 by Dalhousie on 16 May, 2017 07:03
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Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
Ninth. Four from Woomera ( two successes). Four from San Marco platform off Kenya (all successful). -
#881 by QuantumG on 16 May, 2017 07:30
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#882 by FutureSpaceTourist on 16 May, 2017 09:15
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Quote
Rocket Lab Verified account @RocketLabUSA 54s54 seconds ago
We successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 today. Let's hope for the same weather next week! #ItsaTest
https://twitter.com/RocketLabUSA/status/864408476096659457
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#883 by jamesh9000 on 16 May, 2017 09:42
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The current weather forecast is for sun and minimal wind on the 22nd, however forecasts six days out are always iffy, doubly so in the trade latitudes
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#884 by Star One on 16 May, 2017 09:46
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Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
Do you mean launch by a Southern Hemisphere country, or orbital launch from the Southern Hemisphere? -
#885 by Skyrocket on 16 May, 2017 10:21
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Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
Ninth. Four from Woomera ( two successes). Four from San Marco platform off Kenya (all successful).
I count 15 orbital launch attempts from the southern hemisphere:
* 9 Scouts from San Marco (all successful)
* 1 Redstone Sparta from Woomera (successful)
* 3 Europa-1 from Woomera (all failures)
* 2 Black Arrows from Woomera (one success, one failure)
List:
Scout-B 26.04.1967 SM San Marco 2
Redstone Sparta 29.11.1967 Wo LA-8 Wresat
Europa-1 29.11.1968 F Wo LC-6A STV 1
Europa-1 02.07.1969 F Wo LC-6A STV 2
Europa-1 12.06.1970 F Wo LC-6A STV 3
Black Arrow 02.09.1970 F Wo LA-5B Orba (X 2) / R-2 Instrument Package
Scout-B 12.12.1970 SM Explorer 42 (SAS A, Uhuru)
Scout-B 24.04.1971 SM San Marco 3
Black Arrow 28.10.1971 Wo LA-5B Prospero (X 3)
Scout-B 15.11.1971 SM Explorer 45 (SSS A)
Scout-D1 15.11.1972 SM Explorer 48 (SAS B)
Scout-D1 18.02.1974 SM San Marco 4
Scout-B1 15.10.1974 SM Ariel 5 (UK 5)
Scout-F1 07.05.1975 SM Explorer 53 (SAS C)
Scout-G1 25.03.1988 SM San Marco 5
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#886 by Star One on 16 May, 2017 11:03
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Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
Ninth. Four from Woomera ( two successes). Four from San Marco platform off Kenya (all successful).
I count 15 orbital launch attempts from the southern hemisphere:
* 9 Scouts from San Marco (all successful)
* 1 Redstone Sparta from Woomera (successful)
* 3 Europa-1 from Woomera (all failures)
* 2 Black Arrows from Woomera (one success, one failure)
List:
Scout-B 26.04.1967 SM San Marco 2
Redstone Sparta 29.11.1967 Wo LA-8 Wresat
Europa-1 29.11.1968 F Wo LC-6A STV 1
Europa-1 02.07.1969 F Wo LC-6A STV 2
Europa-1 12.06.1970 F Wo LC-6A STV 3
Black Arrow 02.09.1970 F Wo LA-5B Orba (X 2) / R-2 Instrument Package
Scout-B 12.12.1970 SM Explorer 42 (SAS A, Uhuru)
Scout-B 24.04.1971 SM San Marco 3
Black Arrow 28.10.1971 Wo LA-5B Prospero (X 3)
Scout-B 15.11.1971 SM Explorer 45 (SSS A)
Scout-D1 15.11.1972 SM Explorer 48 (SAS B)
Scout-D1 18.02.1974 SM San Marco 4
Scout-B1 15.10.1974 SM Ariel 5 (UK 5)
Scout-F1 07.05.1975 SM Explorer 53 (SAS C)
Scout-G1 25.03.1988 SM San Marco 5
Being from the UK I was a bit irked to see people forgetting Black Arrow. -
#887 by LouScheffer on 16 May, 2017 14:05
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Technically, there may be more. SeaLaunch launched 31 times from a platform that was supposed to be right on the equator. Depending on minor positioning errors, at least some of them may have been from the Southern Hemisphere.
I count 15 orbital launch attempts from the southern hemisphere:
Ninth. Four from Woomera ( two successes). Four from San Marco platform off Kenya (all successful).Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch? -
#888 by jcm on 16 May, 2017 14:57
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Technically, there may be more. SeaLaunch launched 31 times from a platform that was supposed to be right on the equator. Depending on minor positioning errors, at least some of them may have been from the Southern Hemisphere.
I count 15 orbital launch attempts from the southern hemisphere:
Ninth. Four from Woomera ( two successes). Four from San Marco platform off Kenya (all successful).Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
Oooh, nice nitpick point! Now we need to ask SeaLaunch for their GPS readings at launch time for each of their missions.... -
#889 by Space Ghost 1962 on 16 May, 2017 15:26
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Technically, there may be more. SeaLaunch launched 31 times from a platform that was supposed to be right on the equator. Depending on minor positioning errors, at least some of them may have been from the Southern Hemisphere.
I count 15 orbital launch attempts from the southern hemisphere:
Ninth. Four from Woomera ( two successes). Four from San Marco platform off Kenya (all successful).Let's hope the gyros are
Is this the first Southern Hemisphere orbital launch?
Oooh, nice nitpick point! Now we need to ask SeaLaunch for their GPS readings at launch time for each of their missions....
Or, IIRC, there's a mission plan associated with each launch contract, that has that as well. And a mission summary as well. So you have more than a few ways to get that. There are a few of the former SeaLaunch personnel hanging around here like kq6ea, along with some former Boeing ILS who keep a low profile. -
#890 by douglas100 on 16 May, 2017 16:01
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Looking like a "real" rocket with the LOX frosting! Good luck with the test.
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#891 by gongora on 16 May, 2017 17:37
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FAA License for 3 test flights (found via Jeff Foust tweet)
Edit:QuoteRocket Lab USA is authorized to conduct three test launches of Electron launch vehicles from Rocket Lab Launch Complex (RLLC) in New Zealand, with each transporting an inert payload to low Earth orbit.
...
(c) On a launch azimuth of 174 degrees
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#892 by ringsider on 16 May, 2017 19:53
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FAA License for 3 test flights (found via Jeff Foust tweet)
Edit:QuoteRocket Lab USA is authorized to conduct three test launches of Electron launch vehicles from Rocket Lab Launch Complex (RLLC) in New Zealand, with each transporting an inert payload to low Earth orbit.
...
(c) On a launch azimuth of 174 degrees
There we go. Also now on the FAA website
https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/licenses/
FAA CST has control of Rocket Lab activities and the New Zealand launch site.
Hard to argue anymore that this is not a US launcher.
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#893 by CameronD on 16 May, 2017 23:23
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The current weather forecast is for sun and minimal wind on the 22nd, however forecasts six days out are always iffy, doubly so in the trade latitudes
Presumably you meant to say "outside of the trade latitudes"??
Although protected by the West Island to some extent and most of the North for the first few thousand feet or so, the Mahia launch site lies right on the edge of the "Roaring Forties" and, with a successful launch likely to end up in either the "Furious Fifties" or "Screaming Sixties", believe me, this is a long way south of the trades!
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#894 by FutureSpaceTourist on 17 May, 2017 09:13
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Quote
Rocket Lab Verified account @RocketLabUSA 11m11 minutes ago
Rutherford is specifically designed for Electron and is the first of its kind to use 3D printing for all primary components #ItsaTest
https://twitter.com/RocketLabUSA/status/864767665839230977
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#895 by FutureSpaceTourist on 17 May, 2017 18:20
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Quote
SPACEFLIGHT PURCHASES AN ELECTRON ROCKET FROM ROCKET LAB FOR MORE FREQUENT, AFFORDABLE RIDESHARE TO SPACE
MAY 17, 2017 JODI SORENSEN
Purchase reflects an increasing demand for mid-inclination orbits from small satellite industry
SEATTLE – May 17, 2017 — Spaceflight, the company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space, today announced the purchase of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket to increase the frequency of its dedicated rideshare missions. The Electron is an ideal launch vehicle for dedicated and rideshare missions, especially those serving difficult-to-come-by launch destinations such as mid-inclination orbits for remote sensing satellites. In late 2015, Spaceflight began its dedicated rideshare launch service with the purchase of a SpaceX Falcon 9 and now expands the rocket partnership to Rocket Lab with the Electron.
Spaceflight purchases a Rocket Lab Electron for additional rideshare opportunities
Dedicated rideshare for smallsats is a new launch alternative that blends cost-effective rideshare pricing (where several payloads share the same launch to a specific destination) with first-class service, typically associated with buying a private rocket. Spaceflight provides multiple launch options to ensure organizations can access space when they need to, at a much lower cost than buying their own launch vehicle.
“There are numerous rideshare launches each year to Sun Synchronous Orbit, but getting to 45 to 60 degrees is hard to find, and can cost the equivalent of buying an entire rocket,” said Curt Blake, President of Spaceflight’s launch business. “We are thrilled to be working with Rocket Lab to enable our customers’ remote sensing missions that require high revisit time over North America, Europe, and the Middle East.”
Peter Beck, Rocket Lab CEO added, “The Electron is an entirely carbon-composite vehicle that is designed to carry payloads of 225kg to an elliptical orbit and up to 150kg to a nominal 500km sun synchronous low earth orbit. We look forward to expanding this relationship and operational manifest with Spaceflight as we increase our market reach and remove the barriers to commercial space.”
Spaceflight has launched more than 100 satellites to date from a variety of launch vehicles including PSLV, Dnepr, Antares, Cygnus, Soyuz and others. The frequency of satellite launches, combined with Spaceflight’s cross-section of customers and variety of mission-applications, is a strong indicator of the growing capabilities of small satellites and the need for more timely and cost-effective access to space.
The companies have not yet announced a date for the Electron dedicated rideshare mission. Organizations interested in learning more about this and other launch options should contact [email protected].
http://www.spaceflight.com/spaceflight-purchases-electron-rocket-rocket-lab-frequent-affordable-rideshare-space/
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#896 by edkyle99 on 17 May, 2017 18:36
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Ugh. U.S. paperwork didn't build this rocket. Kiwi's did!FAA License for 3 test flights (found via Jeff Foust tweet)
Edit:QuoteRocket Lab USA is authorized to conduct three test launches of Electron launch vehicles from Rocket Lab Launch Complex (RLLC) in New Zealand, with each transporting an inert payload to low Earth orbit.
...
(c) On a launch azimuth of 174 degrees
There we go. Also now on the FAA website
https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/licenses/
FAA CST has control of Rocket Lab activities and the New Zealand launch site.
Hard to argue anymore that this is not a US launcher.
- Ed Kyle -
#897 by TrevorMonty on 17 May, 2017 18:48
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With lot of US funding.
Ugh. U.S. paperwork didn't build this rocket. Kiwi's did!FAA License for 3 test flights (found via Jeff Foust tweet)
Edit:QuoteRocket Lab USA is authorized to conduct three test launches of Electron launch vehicles from Rocket Lab Launch Complex (RLLC) in New Zealand, with each transporting an inert payload to low Earth orbit.
...
(c) On a launch azimuth of 174 degrees
There we go. Also now on the FAA website
https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/licenses/
FAA CST has control of Rocket Lab activities and the New Zealand launch site.
Hard to argue anymore that this is not a US launcher.
- Ed Kyle -
#898 by CameronD on 18 May, 2017 00:26
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Ugh. U.S. paperwork didn't build this rocket. Kiwi's did!
With lot of US funding.
- Ed Kyle
Yeah, well, that's okay.. There is a lot of money in the US and a lot of US-funded projects in NZ (James Cameron's hangout for one), but no matter how much money (and paperwork) they happen to pour in, it's still New Zealand - and still a Kiwi rocket, designed by Kiwis, built by Kiwis (mostly) and launched by Kiwis.
Fingers crossed..
EDIT: I should also add "ignored by Kiwis".. but maybe a handful will take notice if/when it's successful launch. -
#899 by FutureSpaceTourist on 18 May, 2017 09:04
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Quote
Rocket LabVerified account @RocketLabUSA 3m3 minutes ago
Mission Control (MCC) is the technological hive of Rocket Lab where more than 25,000 data channels are processed during a launch #ItsaTest
https://twitter.com/RocketLabUSA/status/865130082356146176
