Author Topic: Countdown to new smallsat launchers  (Read 403912 times)

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #100 on: 07/26/2016 06:25 am »
Two more for the list, this time from Australia.

Gilmour Space Technologies
https://www.facebook.com/gstpropulsion/?fref=nf

Hyperion Launch Vehicle
mt = 24,540 kg
mc = 350 kg
ho = 300 km
Inc = 45°

Stage 1 (4xCHPM)
mp = 16,400 kg
ms = 2,240 kg
Fs = 492.7 kN
Isp = 245 s (sea level)
T = 80 s

Stage 2 (1xCHPM)
mp = 4100 kg
ms = 573 kg
Fv = 163.7 kN
Isp 320 s (vacuum)
T = 80 s

Stage 3 (1xHUS)
mp = 620 kg
ms = 87 kg
Fv = 21.6 kN
Isp = 320 s
T = 90 s

Fairing
D = 1.6 m

All engines are hybrid with 90% H2O2 oxidiser and Polymer Wax fuel. CHPM is pump fed. HUS is pressure fed. First launch planned for 2018. Flew RASTA Mk.2 N2O/ABS sounding rocket on 22 July 2016.


Heliaq Advanced Engineering
http://heliaq.com/ (website is down at the moment, go to https://web.archive.org/web/20160422083512/http://www.heliaq.com/ )

ALV-2 (Austral Launch Vehicle)
mc = 30 kg
ho = 400 km
Inc = 98°

First Stage (2xFlyback boosters)

Second Stage

Third Stage

LOX/Methane propellant. 1/2 scale of full ALV-3 vehicle. First launch is planned for 2020. Flew ALV-0 model of first stage booster on 23 December 2015.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline CameronD

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #101 on: 07/27/2016 12:26 am »
Two more for the list, this time from Australia.

Gilmour Space Technologies
https://www.facebook.com/gstpropulsion/?fref=nf

How come we haven't heard of these guys before?!?  Granted, it's small-scale at the moment - but they're actually building and launching stuff on Australian soil.  :o

Quote
22 July 2016 | Westmar, QLD

This morning, Gilmour Space Technologies successfully launched our first rocket. We believe it's the first launch of a privately developed hybrid sounding rocket, designed and built by a Singapore and Australian-based company.

It's time to change the game... Watch this space!



http://www.gspacetech.com/

With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline ringsider

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #102 on: 08/06/2016 09:02 pm »
Quite a design: lox-hydrogen(!) with what's referred to as an aerospike nozzle, though I'd call it a spike, since it is not truncated.

Honestly that is just fantasy, I would be amazed if those guys did anything. It's this kind of thing that makes it hard for real businesses to gain any crediblity as they are all lumped into "crazy" = space.

Offline vaporcobra

Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #103 on: 08/08/2016 07:28 am »
Ripple Aeropsace AS was registered as a company on May 26th 2016. I would not expect too much from them in the near term.


Helge

Yes, they are extremely new, can't disagree there. Nevertheless, they have some truly exciting ideas and I wish them luck :)

Offline Archibald

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #104 on: 08/08/2016 08:17 am »
Wow, a Rasta rocket. Is Jamaica involved in any way ? how about weed as rocket propellant ?
(lame joke. runs for cover)

More seriously - glad to see a H2O2 rocket.
« Last Edit: 08/08/2016 08:25 am by Archibald »
Han shot first and Gwynne Shotwell !

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #105 on: 08/09/2016 05:19 am »
RASTA Mk.II (Recovery And Separation Systems Test Article) actually used NO2 and 3D printed ABS as propellant. The next rocket is called Koopman and I believe will be using 90% H2O2. Launch is scheduled for September with an aim of reaching 20 km altitude.
« Last Edit: 08/09/2016 05:20 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline CameronD

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #106 on: 08/10/2016 01:52 am »
In parallel to this, Australian student-built Cubesats are in the news today.  Hopefully this will translate into something bigger on both fronts..

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-09/australian-mini-satellites-to-study-the-thermosphere/7702748
« Last Edit: 08/10/2016 01:53 am by CameronD »
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #107 on: 09/07/2016 03:26 am »
Some relevant old news
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/08/08/smallsat-2016-updates-launch-vehicle-development/
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3044/1

Not much movement in a way of actual launches, some updates to be queued

Bets on RocketLab will be the first to lift off in an actual launch attempt ?
Also, maybe we should find a page on wikipedia for this table, except that cant really link back to NSF threads from there :)



« Last Edit: 09/07/2016 03:28 am by savuporo »
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Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #108 on: 09/07/2016 04:23 am »
Meanwhile, a midterm evaluation

OrganizationVehicleCountryYear/QuarterMain propulsionPriceRefThread
Rocket LabElectronNZ/USA2016 Q32-stage kerolox$4.9Mrefthread
Firefly Space SystemsFireflyUSA2017 Q22-stage, methalox$8-9Mrefthread
Virgin GalacticLauncherOneUSA2017 Q3airlaunch, 2-stage kerolox<$10Mrefthread
Horizon SASBlack Arrow 2UK2017 Q22-stage, methalox$7.5Mrefthread
CubeCabCubeCabUSA2017 Q3airlaunch, no detail$0.25Mref
Generation OrbitGO Launcher 2USA2017 Q4airlaunch$2.5Mref
zero2infinityBloostarSpain2018 Q2Balloon  + CH4/lox$4.0Mref
UP AerospaceSpyderUSA2018 Q24-stage solidref
Rocket CraftersIntrepid-1USA2018 Q42-stage hybridref
Vector Space SystemsWolverineUSA20182 stage keroloxref
InterStellar TechnologiesPocky ? Japan3 stage LOX/ethanolref
CONAETronador IIArgentina2.5-stage kerolox/hypergol$6M
Lin IndustrialTaimyrRussia2 stage peroxide/kero$0.18 Mrefthread
Tranquility AerospaceDevon TwoUK2 stage peroxide/keroref
PLD SpaceArion-2Spain2 stage keroloxrefthread
MISHAAL AerospaceM-OVUSA2 stage hybrid LOX/HTPBrefthread
NammoNorth StarNorway20203 stage perfoxide/rubber hybridrefthread
Open Space OrbitalNeutrino 1Canada2020ref
SpaceLSPrometheus-1UK3 stage peroxide/kero
Bagaveev CorporationUSAref
Scorpius Space Launch CompanyDemi-SpriteUSA$3.6Mref
ARCA Space Corp.Haas 2CRomania/USA2-stage keroloxref
Gilmour space technologiesErisAustralia/Singaporehybrid
Ripple AerospaceSea SerpentNorway2-stage .. LOX/LH aerospike ?
HeliaqALVAustraliaflyback+scramjet?ref
Lockheed MartinAthena IcUSAref
--- unclear status ---
Swiss Space SystemsSOARSwitzerlandunclearairlaunch<$10Mref
XCOR AerospaceLynx Mark IIIUSAunclearairlaunchrefthread
Ventions LLCSALVOUSAunclearairlaunch, 2-stage keroloxrefthread
Sandia National LabSuper StrypiUSAunclear3-stage solid$12Mrefthread
Interorbital SystemsNEPTUNE N5USAunclear3-stage hno3/turpentine$0.25Mrefthread
CTAVLMBrazil/Gerunclear4-stage solidrefthread
Celestia AerospaceSagitariusSpainunclearairlaunch, solid ?$0.24Mref
BoeingALASAUSAcancelledairlaunch, 2-stage$1Mrefthread

EDIT: Changed Garvey->Vector
« Last Edit: 09/08/2016 04:57 pm by savuporo »
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Offline high road

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #109 on: 09/07/2016 10:31 am »
Wait a sec, what does the Year/Quarter collumn stand for? First test mission, first commercial missions or previously declared start of commercial flight?

Rocket Lab said they 'are still on track' to begin testing this month (the last of Q3 ticking away) but would only do missions in 2017, but Firefly Space Systems has an article about them on their site, dated august 5, that says they'll begin testing in late fall 2016.

http://www.fireflyspace.com/news/inthenews/aviation-week-reports-firefly-targets-late-fall-for-alpha-aerospike-rocket-tests

And Virgin Galactic, well they've been doing test flights for years now, and have been postponing their first commercial flight deadline for even longer.
« Last Edit: 09/07/2016 10:38 am by high road »

Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #110 on: 09/07/2016 08:55 pm »
Wait a sec, what does the Year/Quarter collumn stand for? First test mission, first commercial missions or previously declared start of commercial flight?
I've been trying to pin the first milestone flight of whatever hardware. Even if it's just a suborbital test, but it should be going to space. Some groups in the list have flown low altitude stuff, but nothing even remotely capable of going to space yet.
And i didn't do a full pass of updating all the references, timelines and mentions. I've tried to find links and references that are reported by someone else than the company, or at least announcements about flight dates made by company in public forums in front of an actual audience. Anyone can crank out a press release and social media fluff, doesn't mean they are actually serious and viable. Admittedly, i haven't done a thorough job and it's better done on a wiki, and references to technical approach and the ever sliding first launch dates should actually be different.
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Offline ringsider

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #111 on: 09/08/2016 01:32 pm »
Anyone can crank out a press release and social media fluff, doesn't mean they are actually serious and viable. Admittedly, i haven't done a thorough job and it's better done on a wiki, and references to technical approach and the ever sliding first launch dates should actually be different.

It's a useful list actually, thanks for doing it.

I agree that of the 25+ candidates only a handful are really serious, probably only 3-4 on that list. This sector is full of websites that promise space tourism to the moons of Neptune by lunchtime. I actually think the ones who make fewer announcements are more serious.

Offline TrevorMonty

Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #112 on: 09/08/2016 04:43 pm »
Garvey is now Vector and is in part being funded by NASA and DARPA awards. See recent Vector thread post.

Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #113 on: 09/08/2016 05:35 pm »
Garvey is now Vector and is in part being funded by NASA and DARPA awards. See recent Vector thread post.
Yeah, slipped there, updated now. I've probably missed a bunch of other updates posted up in the thread here ..

.. I actually think the ones who make fewer announcements are more serious.
A good proxy for guessing the viability is the number of people involved, even though that info is not easily found in public. Nobody will go to space with a 5-person team moonlighting in a garage. Sizeable full time team hired and funds to keep them on through the first major business milestones is the best indicator of credibility


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Offline josespeck

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #114 on: 09/11/2016 03:55 pm »
Quote
Sobre los precios, para Arion 1 (suborbital) entre 6.000 y 12.000 €/kg, y en Arion 2 (orbital) el rango sería de entre... (Translate:On prices for Arion 1 (suborbital) between 6,000 and 12,000 € / kg, and Arion 2 (orbital) the range would be between...

More information: http://www.sondasespaciales.com/portada/2016/08/pldspace2/

Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #115 on: 10/08/2016 01:44 am »
An update from Carlos Niederstrasser and Warren Frick of Orbital ATK who did the original survey that kicked off this thread, on ParabolicArc

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/10/03/plethora-small-sat-launchers/
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Offline ringsider

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #116 on: 10/09/2016 09:54 am »
I was just tinkering with classifying these efforts into distinct groups based on the "no bucks, no Buck Rogers concept":-

A. No money e.g. Ripple, Tranquility
B. Not nearly enough money e.g. Vector, Mishaal
C. A bunch of money but facing setbacks e.g. Super Strypi
D. Properly funded with a good chance to see it through e.g. Rocket Lab, Virgin Galactic
E. Burnt most the money they once had e.g. Firefly
F. Government money keeping engineers busy e.g. SMILE

Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #117 on: 10/09/2016 12:33 pm »
I think you are going to find N-1 classifications for N groups in the list. Meaning, all have their own special circumstances. And again, more than money, number of people actively working on the thing is a better credibility indicator.

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Offline ringsider

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #118 on: 10/09/2016 12:52 pm »
There are / were 169 people at Firefly and that did not translate to results. Without money you can't get much done, esp. hiring professional people, as people can't live for free forever.

Offline savuporo

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Re: Countdown to new smallsat launchers
« Reply #119 on: 10/09/2016 12:57 pm »
I'm taking that for granted, so estimating number of people working is an indirect proxy for money being spent - and also money available. Very few people can afford to work for free or much under market value for substantial time spans required to develop an orbital launch vehicle.

Also externally guessing the number of people on a project vs estimating depth of undisclosed investors pockets is just somewhat easier and more direct measure of progress being made
« Last Edit: 10/09/2016 12:59 pm by savuporo »
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