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Rocket Lab Neutron - Updates
by
Hobbes-22
on 23 Mar, 2021 14:35
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#1
by
Hobbes-22
on 23 Mar, 2021 15:37
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https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-unveils-plans-for-new-8-ton-class-reusable-rocket-for-mega-constellation-deployment/
Rocket Lab Unveils Plans for New 8-Ton Class Reusable Rocket for Mega-Constellation Deployment
The advanced new rocket, Neutron, will transform space access by delivering reliable and cost-effective launch services for satellite mega-constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight
Long Beach, California., (March 1, 2021) -- Rocket Lab today unveiled plans for its Neutron rocket, an advanced 8-ton payload class launch vehicle tailored for mega-constellation deployment, interplanetary missions and human spaceflight.
Neutron will build on Rocket Lab’s proven experience developing the reliable workhorse Electron launch vehicle, the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually since 2019. Where Electron provides dedicated access to orbit for small satellites of up to 300 kg (660 lb), Neutron will transform space access for satellite constellations and provide a dependable, high-flight-rate dedicated launch solution for larger commercial and government payloads.
“Rocket Lab solved small launch with Electron. Now we’re unlocking a new category with Neutron,” said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO. “We’ve listened to our customers and the message is clear - biggest doesn’t always mean best when it comes to constellation deployment. Efficiently building the mega constellations of the future requires launching multiple satellites in batches to different orbital planes. It’s a requirement that all too often sees large launch vehicles fly with payloads well below their full lift capacity, which is an incredibly expensive and inefficient way to build out a satellite constellation. Neutron’s 8-ton lift capacity will make it ideally sized to deploy satellites in batches to specific orbital planes, creating a more targeted and streamlined approach to building out mega constellations.”
Neutron will also provide a dedicated service to orbit for larger civil, defense and commercial payloads that need a level of schedule control and high-flight cadence not available on large and heavy lift rockets. Neutron will be capable of lifting 98% of all satellites forecast to launch through 2029 and will be able to introduce highly disruptive lower costs by leveraging Electron’s heritage, launch sites and architecture.
The medium-lift Neutron rocket will be a two-stage launch vehicle that stands 40 meters (131 feet) tall with a 4.5-meter (14.7 ft) diameter fairing and a lift capacity of up to 8,000 kg (8 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit, 2,000 kg to the Moon (2 metric tons), and 1,500 kg to Mars and Venus (1.5 metric tons). Neutron will feature a reusable first stage designed to land on an ocean platform, enabling a high launch cadence and decreased launch costs for customers. Initially designed for satellite payloads, Neutron will also be capable of International Space Station (ISS) resupply and human spaceflight missions.
Neutron launches will take place from Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. By leveraging the existing launch pad and integration infrastructure at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Rocket Lab eliminates the need to build a new pad, accelerating the timeline to first launch, expected in 2024.
Rocket Lab is assessing locations across America to establish a new state-of-the-art factory to support large-scale Neutron manufacturing, adding hundreds of jobs to the Rocket Lab team.
For more information on Rocket Lab, visit www.rocketlabusa.com and join the conversation at www.twitter.com/rocketlab
ENDS
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#2
by
Hobbes-22
on 23 Mar, 2021 15:39
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Presentation video:
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#3
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 08 Sep, 2021 20:24
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#4
by
TrevorMonty
on 08 Sep, 2021 21:12
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Upper stage reuse is lot harder to pull off. I like fact they aren't relying on it.
Neutron is probably to small to make any savings on up mass $kg but does give them access to downmass market. If in space manufacturing is to be successful it will need low cost downmass transport.
Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk
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#5
by
TrevorMonty
on 25 Sep, 2021 01:08
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#6
by
TrevorMonty
on 27 Sep, 2021 14:50
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#7
by
Everything Rocket Lab
on 27 Sep, 2021 18:11
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Total rocket height is now 46 meters according to official sources:
''The medium-lift Neutron will be a two-stage launch vehicle that stands 46 meters (150 feet) tall with a 5-meter (16.4 ft) diameter fairing and a lift capacity of up to 8,000 kg (8 metric tons) to low-Earth orbit, 2,000 kg to the Moon (2 metric tons), and 1,500 kg to Mars and Venus (1.5 metric tons).''
https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1819994/000119312521282501/d212874ds1.htm
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#8
by
russianhalo117
on 30 Nov, 2021 06:51
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RL livestream regarding Neutron design downselect and development:
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#9
by
russianhalo117
on 02 Dec, 2021 16:02
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Condensed version:
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#10
by
Hobbes-22
on 03 Dec, 2021 12:03
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Info from the video:
80% of satellites to be built in the next decade will be small sats or constellations.
Neutron is optimized for constellations, but can also do GEO, human space flight and interplanetary flight.
Designed to be reusable from the start.
No deployable landing legs, but permanent legs.
Upper stage has to be lightweight, high performance and low cost. Not reusable. US structure will be in tension, not compression. So it's hung from the payload separation plane. Lightest US in history.
Reentry is a thermal problem. Best solution: not have a thermal load. First stage is a cone: diameter at the top is smaller than the base to reduce the heat load.
Animation shows the widest part of the stage is at about 1/5 of the total height.
Height 40 m
Diameter at the base: 7 m
internal fairing diameter: 5 m
Payload to LEO: 8t reusable, 15t expendable
liftoff mass 480t
Rocket structure is carbon fibre. Automated fibre placement.
Archmedes engines, 7 on the first stage.
1 MN thrust, 320s Isp, Lox/Methane, gas generator cycle.
Low stress, high margins to make it easier to reuse.
Fairing in 4 petals attached to first stage, won't be jettisoned.
Aerodynamic control after reentry by canards at the top of the stage.
Landing is at launch site.
Launch site infrastructure minimized to reduce cost.
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#11
by
Navier–Stokes
on 03 Dec, 2021 18:31
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#12
by
jdon759
on 02 May, 2022 22:42
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RL livestream () notes that Neutron can launch 13t to orbit. I hadn't heard this number before.
(Edit: I meant to post this in the Neutron thread
Edit 2: Thanks Zubenelgenubi & add source (BTW links are quite annoying to post on this forum))
[zubenelgenubi: Split/merged. In such situations, submit a "Report to Moderator" by using the button labeled as such in the lower right area of the post.]
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#13
by
trimeta
on 02 May, 2022 23:41
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The
Neutron page has been updated to reflect 13,000kg, there's no more mention of 8,000kg anywhere. When I heard it mentioned in the stream, I thought it was just "8,000kg reused, 13,000kg expended," but with 8,000kg omitted entirely, maybe this is an upgrade and it's 13,000kg reused.
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#14
by
sanman
on 03 May, 2022 01:33
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The Neutron page has been updated to reflect 13,000kg, there's no more mention of 8,000kg anywhere. When I heard it mentioned in the stream, I thought it was just "8,000kg reused, 13,000kg expended," but with 8,000kg omitted entirely, maybe this is an upgrade and it's 13,000kg reused.
But does that then imply that non-reusable now has an even greater payload, whose amount they're not mentioning?
Because surely the payload mass for reusable and non-reusable can't be identical.
Maybe they're now only using the non-reusable number, because it's the more impressive number.
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#15
by
trimeta
on 03 May, 2022 01:59
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Based on the Wayback Machine, the change happened some time between April 1st and 14th. To sanman's point, the page
used to say "Payload to LEO: 8,000kg; Max Payload to LEO: 15,000kg." Now it just says "Payload to LEO: 13,000kg." So would be rather misleading to switch from "Payload to LEO" meaning reusable (while "Max Payload to LEO" was reserved for expendable) to "Payload to LEO" meaning expendable.
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#16
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 03 May, 2022 02:00
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They mentioned on the launch webcast today that the launch pad and integration building/LCC for Neutron has now started construction at Wallops. Does anybody know where exactly at Wallops/MARS the pad will be at?
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#17
by
sanman
on 03 May, 2022 03:36
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Based on the Wayback Machine, the change happened some time between April 1st and 14th. To sanman's point, the page used to say "Payload to LEO: 8,000kg; Max Payload to LEO: 15,000kg." Now it just says "Payload to LEO: 13,000kg." So would be rather misleading to switch from "Payload to LEO" meaning reusable (while "Max Payload to LEO" was reserved for expendable) to "Payload to LEO" meaning expendable.
Maybe an upgraded reusable payload mass reflects engine improvement, or ultra-cold densified propellants?
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#18
by
XRZ.YZ
on 03 May, 2022 03:54
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It still listing 1500kg to Mars/Venus on the website. Same as the number release last December.
So, I prefer to think this is a more realistic performance as they go deeper into engineering.
And there is possibility the re-used performance is decreasing even more, so RL just hide that info now.
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#19
by
whitelancer64
on 03 May, 2022 04:41
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They mentioned on the launch webcast today that the launch pad and integration building/LCC for Neutron has now started construction at Wallops. Does anybody know where exactly at Wallops/MARS the pad will be at?
This article is from a year ago, but it's got the only site map (shown below) I could find with a quick google search. Unfortunately, it does not say exactly where the new launch pad will be.
https://www.easternshorepost.com/2021/07/22/zoning-approvals-clear-the-way-for-rocket-production-in-accomack/And I used Google maps to look around Wallops, I believe I've located the site!