Vector Launch (formerly Vector Space Systems)

[Steven Pietrobon]

I don't know... The gap between suborbital and orbital is vast. I can't recall a design that was started out small and then was tinkered with to gradually become an orbital first stage.

Viking -> Vanguard
Redstone -> Juno I -> Mercury-Redstone
Jupiter -> Juno II
Thor -> Thor-Agena -> Delta -> Delta II -> Delta III

[Nomic]

Issue with incremental testing a reusable system from day one is the lack of customer revenue during development, probably a long development losing several vehicles along the way. How many investors have the patience and trust to stick with a company through this? Starting with an ELV at least gets customers paying for the flying test stands sooner.

That said, I'm not convinced by the economics of any pressure fed launcher.

[imprezive]

Issue with incremental testing a reusable system from day one is the lack of customer revenue during development, probably a long development losing several vehicles along the way. How many investors have the patience and trust to stick with a company through this? Starting with an ELV at least gets customers paying for the flying test stands sooner.

That said, I'm not convinced by the economics of any pressure fed launcher.

If Vector was fully funded for development I'd tend to agree. They seem to still be in capital raising mode so actually flying anything is probably very helpful in getting investors on-board.

[Nomic]

I was thinking more about the problems of developing an RLV, for Vector I'd agree, flying anything improves their chances of attracting investors.

[Lars-J]

I don't know... The gap between suborbital and orbital is vast. I can't recall a design that was started out small and then was tinkered with to gradually become an orbital first stage.

Viking -> Vanguard
Redstone -> Juno I -> Mercury-Redstone
Jupiter -> Juno II
Thor -> Thor-Agena -> Delta -> Delta II -> Delta III

Those are good examples, thanks! But they all started with V-2 heritage missile/stages, which were already capable of suborbital spaceflight. A much more capable starting point than what Vector is now at, but your point is taken.

[rsdavis9]

so is the first stage recovered with parachutes?
I didn't see any info on this.

[QuantumG]

so is the first stage recovered with parachutes?
I didn't see any info on this.

That would be my assumption too. Presumably with some boostback to the launch site.

[ringsider]

I think it's worth noting one thing to compare and contrast Vector's maiden flight plan with Rocket Lab's maiden flight plan.

Vector had planned an altitude of 1.3 km, presumably straight up and straight back down again: "Company spokeswoman Sarah Nickell said that the planned maximum altitude for the rocket on this launch was 1,370 meters, but said later that the company will not release the flight’s actual peak altitude."

Rocket Lab's planned flight path is almost 2,200 km, altitude is not mentioned, probably because orbital flight is more about the gravity turn and horizontal deltaV than altitude; simple altitude does not get you to orbit:

Rocket Lab has quietly set first test dates in a new NOTAM, 22 May - 3 June:-



Here's a plot of the debris boxes, showing flight path:-

But based on those hazard zones I am not expecting this to be an orbital flight; the second hazard zone is probably the S2 drop, and normally S2 would achieve orbit and burn up on re-entry some time later.

These two vehicles and companies are not in the same category.

[CameronD]

I think it's worth noting one thing to compare and contrast Vector's maiden flight plan with Rocket Lab's maiden flight plan.

Vector had planned an altitude of 1.3 km, presumably straight up and straight back down again: "Company spokeswoman Sarah Nickell said that the planned maximum altitude for the rocket on this launch was 1,370 meters, but said later that the company will not release the flight’s actual peak altitude."

Rocket Lab's planned flight path is almost 2,200 km, altitude is not mentioned, probably because orbital flight is more about the gravity turn and horizontal deltaV than altitude; simple altitude does not get you to orbit:

You don't actually know that.. and that isn't what Notices to Mariners are for.  RL's little rocket might get somewhere or they might not get anywhere at all, but there are a lot of fishing vessels and a cruise liner or two traipsing along that coast and it's more than fair to warn them to watch out skywards if they're in the area.

What it does show is that, since they have no way to cover such a vast area of open ocean, RL have absolutely no intention of recovering any part of this "test" vehicle if it just happens to leave the launch site.

These two vehicles and companies are not in the same category.

That much is true.

[ringsider]

I think it's worth noting one thing to compare and contrast Vector's maiden flight plan with Rocket Lab's maiden flight plan.

Vector had planned an altitude of 1.3 km, presumably straight up and straight back down again: "Company spokeswoman Sarah Nickell said that the planned maximum altitude for the rocket on this launch was 1,370 meters, but said later that the company will not release the flight’s actual peak altitude."

Rocket Lab's planned flight path is almost 2,200 km, altitude is not mentioned, probably because orbital flight is more about the gravity turn and horizontal deltaV than altitude; simple altitude does not get you to orbit:

You don't actually know that.. and that isn't what Notices to Mariners are for.  RL's little rocket might get somewhere or they might not get anywhere at all, but there are a lot of fishing vessels and a cruise liner or two traipsing along that coast and it's more than fair to warn them to watch out skywards if they're in the area.

Sure I know that. As I said, those boxes delineate their intended planned flight path.

Notice I said "planned".

Whether they make it or not is another question, but that debris pattern defines the flight direction and expected range.

The FAA  / CAA will have another plan that shows the exclusion zones in the airspace envelope but that pattern is a solid clue to inclination and power intentions.

In fact here are the NZ CAA AIPs affecting the Auckland Oceanic FLIR, from sea level to FL13.5 around Hawkes Bay and to FL999 beyond it:

[ringsider]

Just saw something else about Vector's estimated $21m Iceye contract:

Iceye Advisors

James Cantrell
    Advisor
    Co Founder Vector Space
    Founding team SpaceX
    Founder of StratSpace
    Founder of Vintage Exotics Engineering
    Angel Investor

Source:https://angel.co/iceye

So Jim Cantrell is an advisor to BOTH his main anchor customers.

I hope people putting money into this company are doing due diligence on the tech and commercials.

[TrevorMonty]

I doubt Vector will have any problems finding customers once flying. There are a lot Smalsat and cubesat based businesses relying on likes of RL and Vector to deliver their satellites to specific orbits.

[Chris Bergin]

Second article by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/vector-space-expand-launch-ranges-infrastructure-pads/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Vector-R 1st launch patch is available! A portion of proceeds goto @Kiwisforkiwi kiwisforkiwi.org foundation https://vectorspacesystems.com/product/vector-r-mission-patch-b0-001-first-flight/

https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/865276411052933120

[tvg98]

Here's a video I've not seen:

It's another promo video by Vector.

[Davidthefat]

Here's a video I've not seen:

It's another promo video by Vector.

That came down HARD.

[savuporo]

That came down HARD.

They took 'fail fast' a bit too literally.

[billh]

I love that you can see the old X-Prize landing pads in that video.

[savuporo]

Promise of livestreamed launches in the future

https://twitter.com/vectorspacesys/status/867952998781140994

_{Now if we could make them space launches, this would be awesome news}

[Lars-J]

These two vehicles and companies are not in the same category.

That much is true.

Yes, even more clear after the Rocketlab flight, they are far ahead. But hopefully that will be an inspiration to Vector.