Launcher Space: General Company and Development Updates and Discussions

[raspera]

One thing that sticks out to me about these guys is that if you go on linkedin their entire propulsion design office is in Ukraine. They are hiring for hardware/manufacturing/test type engineers in Hawthorne but it appears that most design/analysis activities are taking place in Ukraine.

The average aero/mechanical type engineer salary in Ukraine is around $10,000 a year! Propulsion Engineers starting at SpaceX get around 80-90K. You can get 9 Ukrainian experienced engineers for the price of one SpaceX new grad!

This is an interesting competitive advantage if done correctly. They can farm out a lot of expert and rote engineering labor to Ukraine at very budget prices. I'm also curious as to how much of their rocket they can manufacture in Ukraine at budget prices. Ukraine has a lot of advanced aerospace industry and knowledge at labor rates that are an order of magnitude less than in the states.

[JEF_300]

One thing that sticks out to me about these guys is that if you go on linkedin their entire propulsion design office is in Ukraine. They are hiring for hardware/manufacturing/test type engineers in Hawthorne but it appears that most design/analysis activities are taking place in Ukraine.

Does it appear that way? Because I was under the impression that all their Ukrainian personnel were living and working in the US.

[trimeta]

Turbopump test firing.

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1382738860640178177

[raspera]

One thing that sticks out to me about these guys is that if you go on linkedin their entire propulsion design office is in Ukraine. They are hiring for hardware/manufacturing/test type engineers in Hawthorne but it appears that most design/analysis activities are taking place in Ukraine.

Does it appear that way? Because I was under the impression that all their Ukrainian personnel were living and working in the US.

If you go to their website (https://launcherspace.com/contact) they say they have a fully owned subsidiary in Dnipro Ukraine.

It says:
'Our team of engineers employed full-time at Launcher Ukraine LLC is permitted to contribute to our Launcher E-2 engine design and analysis with the support of a U.S. State Department-approved Technology Assistance Agreement.'

[Davidthefat]

One thing that sticks out to me about these guys is that if you go on linkedin their entire propulsion design office is in Ukraine. They are hiring for hardware/manufacturing/test type engineers in Hawthorne but it appears that most design/analysis activities are taking place in Ukraine.

Does it appear that way? Because I was under the impression that all their Ukrainian personnel were living and working in the US.

If you go to their website (https://launcherspace.com/contact) they say they have a fully owned subsidiary in Dnipro Ukraine.

It says:
'Our team of engineers employed full-time at Launcher Ukraine LLC is permitted to contribute to our Launcher E-2 engine design and analysis with the support of a U.S. State Department-approved Technology Assistance Agreement.'

Sounds like Rocket Lab

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1385001402041356289

If you enjoyed last week’s 10 sec, 10% power E-2 LOX turbopump test video, here’s our drop of the full duration (2 minutes) 100% power successful test of the same turbopump 🚀🚀🚀🌀🌀🌀

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1394520823977807873

MILESTONE: Our first tool in our new HQ Factory is operational. Cutting Launcher E-2 🚀 engine combustion chamber off its 3D printer build plate. Touch-less precision metal cutting by electrical sparks⚡️⚡️⚡️— in water. EDM wire machine by @SodickUSA

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/launcher/status/1394571256222011403

In 2017, the industry needed a 3D printing breakthrough to print larger liquid rocket engines. To meet the challenge, we partnered with AMCM to create the M 4K  3D printer for printing our E-2 liquid 🚀 engine chamber as a single part in copper alloy. https://amcm.com/news/2021-05-18-launcher-acquires-amcm-m-4k-am-system

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1394571259376128002

We now purchased the printer system so that we can 3D print the Launcher E-2 rocket engine ourselves at our new Launcher HQ in Hawthorne, CA.

[Navier–Stokes]

Funding update: https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/launcher-raises-11-million-ramps-up-hiring-for-2024-flight/

New logo as well: https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1400093318357258245

[JEF_300]

Highlights from that article above.

They have definitely transitioned to having "Launcher Light", the vehicle with a single E-2 on the first stage, as the rocket they intend to launch in 2024.

Have spent about $1.5 million per year so far ($6 million). Intend to spend about $10 million a year between now and first launch. Presumably this covers the factory costs and the pad costs, along with the expansion from 30 to 70 to 150 employees.

That leaves them at around $46 million dollars spent by the end of 2024, fitting with Haot's claim (according to the article) that he wishes to reach first launch with "a total budget of $50 million".

"Reaching orbit with a budget of $50 million would be about half that expended by Rocket Lab and still less than other small launch competitors."

[JEF_300]

They have an incredible team, which should be fully capable of not only overcoming the technical challenges before them, but overachieving. I have full faith that they will reach orbit in 2024. My only real concern on that front was funding, but this funding round and their continued ability to keep dev costs low mostly erases my doubts.

I guess my main question continues to be how they're going to fair when they actually hit the market. Sure, they'll have the best payload ratio in class; so what? Are low dev costs and efficiency really going to be enough to compete with the extremely low prices that Astra is gunning for and that reusable smallsat launchers like Electron may be able to achieve?

Honestly the only thing I can think of that they could maybe do to compete would be to make an SSTO. Put that efficiency to good use, and save on an upper stage. But that would come with plenty of problems of it's own.

[ParabolicSnark]

I guess my main question continues to be how they're going to fair when they actually hit the market. Sure, they'll have the best payload ratio in class; so what? Are low dev costs and efficiency really going to be enough to compete with the extremely low prices that Astra is gunning for and that reusable smallsat launchers like Electron may be able to achieve?

Agreed. I love what Launcher has been able to achieve and am very eager to see where they go and how they develop. I'm concerned that while their engineering is impressive, that it's too little, too late for the business case to sustain them. As engineers we have soft spots for companies like this and tend to be blind that a quality product isn't the only requirement to have a successful business.

Time will tell how they stack up when some of these other small launch vehicles enter operations.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://spacenews.com/launcher-to-develop-orbital-transfer-vehicle/

Launcher to develop orbital transfer vehicle
by Jeff Foust — June 15, 2021

WASHINGTON — Small launch vehicle company Launcher announced June 15 that it is also working on an orbital transfer vehicle for small satellites that it plans to use on both its own rocket as well as SpaceX’s Falcon 9.

Launcher, which announced a $11.7 million funding round June 2, said its Orbiter tug will be able to carry up to 150 kilograms of payload, either in the form of 90 units worth of cubesat deployers or larger satellites using standard smallsat separation systems.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1413537301368643587

This is the first part we 3D printed at our new Launcher HQ and Factory: Orbiter propellant tank. @VELO3DMetal

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1428771581925335041

Back in the game - Launcher E-2 3D printed liquid rocket engine is in position for an upcoming test fire at @NASAStennis 🚀

[TrevorMonty]

https://launcherspace.com/orbiter

Launcher are doing things in reverse for small LV company. They are starting with kickstage called orbiter which will carry upto 150kgs of smallest and cubesats with DV of 500m/s. Plan to rideshare on F9 in 2022. In 2024 introduce Launcher Light a 150kg LV, which can also deliver Orbiter to space.
Just like RL Photon Orbiter's configuration and tankage can change depending on mission.

I think their approach is great idea, a OTV is lot quicker and cheaper to develop than LV allowing for earlier revenue stream while LV is in development.

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/martinmgl/status/1450492208054882310

Some more work I did for @launcher, featuring Launcher Light, a dedicated small satellite launch vehicle. Powered by a single Launcher Engine-2 on its first stage, Launcher Light will deliver satellite payloads of up to 150 kg (330 lbs) to low Earth orbit.  First launch in 2024.

[JEF_300]

Some updates from the past two months.

First of all, they apparently completed all of their LOX turbopump testing:
https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1472084055113961477?s=20

Second of all, the website has been updated: https://www.launcherspace.com
https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1473106213168504833?s=20

And third, we have Max Haot will be talking about the company at LA hardware meetup, tomorrow: https://www.meetup.com/la-hardware/events/283165966/
https://twitter.com/maxhaot/status/1480990645497982979?s=20

[JEF_300]

Looking at the new site, this is the first thing you see:


Lots to unpack in there, particularly the phrase, "rideshare when you can", and talk of launching Orbiter on Falcon 9.
It goes further than just the video though; when you start scrolling down, the first vehicle listed is Orbiter, which apparently will have it's first flight this year. Then after you scroll past it, only then do you see the Launcher Light, still set for 2024.

On the Orbiter page, "Rideshare when you can, Dedicated when you need it", as well as "Don't be forced to choose between rideshare and dedicated launch -- Orbiter positions your satellite exactly where you need it, in the most cost-effective way possible. Same vehicle, same service, same team."

So their pitch seems to be, 'Just hire us, and we'll get it there as cheap as possible, even if that means buying a seat on a Falcon 9 rather than using our own rocket.'

It's an interesting change in tactic, which does seem to resolve my main concerns about the company.


We also have specific performance specs for Launch Light:
Payload to LEO: 150 kg (330 lbs)
Payload to SSO: 105 kg (231 lbs)
Height: 15.2m (50ft)
Diameter: 1.1m (3.6ft)
Liftoff mass: 8,342 kg (18,390 lbs)
Stages: 3 (Orbiter is being counted as the 3rd)

And updated specs for E-2, though they seem mostly the same:
Thrust: 10 ton-force / 22,400 lbf
Propellant: LOX / RP-1
Cycle: Staged combustion
Specific impulse: 327 s (vac)
Chamber pressure: 100 bar / 1,400 psi
Mixture ratio: 2.62
Production: Mostly 3D printed
Chamber material: Copper alloy

[JEF_300]

https://twitter.com/launcher/status/1486180372383617025?s=20

Check this transparent plume. The first test of our Orbiter engine: Thrust 240-lbf, Propellants: nitrous oxide/ethane gas stored as liquid, self pressurized. Spark igniter. Oxidizer regen cooling in 3D printed inconel chamber. 280s vac ISP target. More to come soon.