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ЦитироватьRocket Lab @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · 11m (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/935920427548815360)

On December 8 NZST, Rocket Lab will open a 10 day window in which our team will attempt to launch our second Electron rocket, #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash).

ЦитироватьRocket Lab @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · Nov 14 (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/930227765244076032)

Electron has arrived at LC1.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab‏ @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · Sep 26 (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/912462423445037057)

Second test flight #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) confirmed to fly payloads for @planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs) and @SpireGlobal (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab‏ @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · 5m (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/935923479794159617)

#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) will be the first #Electron (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Electron?src=hash) launch to be live streamed. We can't wait to share it with you. Stream will become available at http://www.rocketlabusa.com  (https://t.co/hU4XnMlhTJ) minutes before a launch attempt.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67521.jpg) Stephen Clark‏ @StephenClark1 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) 37 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/935919236454764546)

Rocket Lab says the 10-day launch window for the second Electron test launch begins Dec. 8 (New Zealand time). First day's launch window opens at 8:30pm EST Dec. 7.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab‏ @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · 12h (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/935924192456802304)

Four hour window, opens daily from 2.30 pm NZST.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 12 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/936710334710034432)

Yesterday we successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal for #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1. Preparations for launch coming along nicely.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171130.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab to launch second orbital-class rocket as soon as next week
December 1, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/127194.jpg)
Rocket Lab's second Electron rocket at the company's New Zealand launch base. Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab has scheduled the launch of its second Electron rocket from New Zealand as soon as Dec. 7, U.S. time, on a test flight that will aim to deploy three small CubeSats in orbit.

The two-stage booster has a ten-day window for the test launch, and there is a four-hour timeframe available for launch each day, Rocket Lab said in an announcement Wednesday.

The earliest opportunity for the lightweight launcher to blast off will be at 0130 GMT on Dec. 8 (8:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 7). The launch window opens at 2:30 p.m. local time at the launch site on Mahia Peninsula on the east coast of New Zealand's northern island.

Спойлер

Rocket Lab officials said they will wait for "ideal" weather conditions and technical readiness before proceeding with the launch, alerting media that there is a chance of multiple scrubbed countdowns before the rocket blasts off.

The company plans to webcast the countdown and launch, and the live video stream will be embedded on Spaceflight Now's website.

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is designed to carry small satellites to orbit, targeting a market niche microsatellite owners say is currently under-served by larger, more expensive boosters. Using nine first stage engines and a single upper stage powerplant, the rocket can deliver up to 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of payload to at 310-mile-high (500-kilometer) sun-synchronous polar orbit.

The upcoming launch will be the second by an Electron rocket. The Electron's inaugural test flight May 25 reached space after a successful first stage burn and second stage ignition, but a data reception error with ground tracking equipment prompted an early termination of the mission for safety reasons.

While engineers tweaked some parameters and hardware on the second test flight — dubbed "Still Testing" by Rocket Lab — the Electron rocket is largely the same as the vehicle that flew in May.

"Electron's first test made history when it became the first orbital-class launch vehicle to reach space from a private launch facility," said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab's founder and CEO. "We analyzed more than 25,000 channels of data from flight one, and we're eager to learn more from this test flight. This is the first test carrying customer payloads and we'll be monitoring everything closely as we attempt to reach orbit."

Two commercial Lemur-2 CubeSats for Spire Global's weather monitoring and ship tracking fleet and one Dove Earth-imaging CubeSat owned by Planet are set for launch on the Electron rocket. Spire and Planet are two leaders in the commercial small satellite industry, both based in San Francisco.

They will be stowed inside "Maxwell" carrier pods developed by Rocket Lab, then deployed around eight-and-a-half minutes after liftoff in an elliptical orbit ranging between 186 miles and 310 miles (300 to 500 kilometers) above Earth inclined 83 degrees to the equator.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/127195.jpg)
Planet's Michael Soulage integrates Dove Pioneer into Rocket Lab's Maxwell deployer. Credit: Planet

Planet says it named its payload aboard the second Electron flight "Dove Pioneer," partially as a nod to NASA's Pioneer probes that explored the solar system. There's also another reason for the name.

"On the other hand, Planet and Rocket Lab really are on the precipice of pioneering something historic in the space industry," wrote Mike Safyan, director of launch and regulatory affairs at Planet. "Planet has been launching and operating record-breaking numbers of satellites for the last several years, and Rocket Lab is at the forefront of providing low-cost, frequent, and mission-tailored access to space, further enabling game-changing small satellite architectures such as Planet's."

The Electron booster will take off from Launch Complex 1 at Onenui Station, a remote commercially-operated launch complex about 235 miles (380 kilometers) southeast of Auckland, home of Rocket Lab's design, manufacturing and control centers.

The company has its global headquarters in Huntington Beach, California, and plans to produce rockets there in the future. Rocket Lab's Electron flights are conducted under the regulatory umbrella of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Backed by U.S. and New Zealand venture capital funds, and investment from the New Zealand government and U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab says it will sell future Electron rocket missions for $4.9 million per flight. The Electron is sized to provide a dedicated ride for small satellites that today must ride piggyback on bigger launchers.

Rocket Lab completed a "wet dress rehearsal" on the Electron rocket at the Mahia Peninsula launch base Thursday, loading RP-1 kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen into the two-stage rocket. The Electron's Rutherford engines, developed in-house at Rocket Lab, will consume the liquid propellant mixture during flight.

The company says it has plans for a third test flight, but if this month's launch goes according to plan, the third demonstration mission could be canceled, allowing Rocket Lab to begin commercial operations next year.

Rocket Lab has future launches on contract with NASA, Planet and Moon Express, a U.S. company developing a commercial micro-lander to go to the moon. Seattle-headquartered Spaceflight has also reserved an Electron launch to send a cluster of CubeSats into orbit.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185936.jpg) The FAA‏Подлинная учетная запись @FAANews (https://twitter.com/FAANews) 32 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/938080864063442945)

#FAA (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FAA?src=hash) has licensed @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) for a Dec. 8 Electron rocket launch. The launch will occur in #NewZealand (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewZealand?src=hash). #FAASpace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FAASpace?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171704.jpg)

ЦитироватьB6247/17 - DANGER AREA NZD025 (EAST AUCKLAND OCEANIC FIR) ACT. REF AIP SUP 137/17. SFC - FL999, 09 DEC 01:00 2017 UNTIL 09 DEC 06:05 2017 ESTIMATED.CREATED: 06 DEC 01:01 2017

B6246/17 (Issued for NZZC NZZO) - DANGER AREA NZD492 (MAHIA, HAWKE'S BAY) ACT.REF AIP SUP 137/17. SFC - FL999, 09 DEC 01:00 2017 UNTIL 09 DEC 06:05 2017 ESTIMATED.CREATED: 06 DEC 00:54 2017

ЦитироватьHYDROPAC 4226/2017 (29,76,83)

SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 29.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS SPACE DEBRIS
   080130Z TO 170530Z DEC IN AREA BOUND BY
   57-06.00S 179-54.00W, 56-42.00S 176-36.00W,
   63-18.00S 173-06.00W, 63-48.00S 177-18.00W.
2. CANCEL HYDROPAC 4225/17.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 170630Z DEC 17.

( 022130Z DEC 2017 )

ЦитироватьRocket Lab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 3m3 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/938853871190814720)

Electron will be rolled onto the pad at Launch Complex 1 today for final #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) prep. Targeting no earlier than 2.30 pm, Saturday 9 December NZDT for a launch attempt. Weather also not looking good for Sunday, so an attempt could still be pushed to Monday NZDT.

ЦитироватьHYDROPAC 4227/2017 (76)

WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0130Z TO 0530Z DAILY
    08 THRU 17 DEC IN AREAS BOUND BY:
    A. 39-11.42S 177-46.64E, 39-11.42S 178-05.00E,
    40-14.65S 178-04.62E, 40-14.93S 177-59.56E.
    B. 43-06.00S 177-46.20E, 42-57.00S 179-15.60E,
    48-30.00S 179-34.20W, 48-40.80S 178-51.00E.
2. CANCEL HYDROPAC 4224/17.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 170630Z DEC 17.

( 022136Z DEC 2017 )

ЦитироватьRocket Lab pushes back second Electron launch by one day
December 7, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143884.jpg)
Rocket Lab's second Electron rocket stands vertical at the company's New Zealand launch site during pre-flight testing. Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab plans to roll out the company's second light-class Electron rocket to its launch pad in New Zealand on Thursday for final countdown preparations, but officials have delayed liftoff to no earlier than Friday night, U.S. time.

The Electron booster, standing roughly 55 feet (17 meters) tall, could blast off fr om Rocket Lab's commercial launch pad as soon as 0130 GMT Saturday (8:30 p.m. EST Friday) at the opening of a four-hour launch window. The launch opportunity opens at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in New Zealand.

Спойлер

Rocket Lab says it has a wider window to launch the rocket, with four hours each day through Dec. 17.

Liftoff with three commercial CubeSat payloads was planned as soon as Thursday night, U.S. time, but officials said they needed more time.

The company transported the Electron vehicle to its launch base last month, after completing full-up hotfire testing. The launch team rehearsed countdown procedures last week, and practiced loading kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants into the rocket.

"We did a hotfire campaign as a big preparatory test, so all that was done over a month ago," said Shaun O'Donnell, Rocket Lab's vice president of global operations. "The wet dress rehearsal went really well. It went really smooth, especially for our first run at it, so we're really confident."

Ground crews at the launch site on Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's southern island, planned to transfer the two-stage rocket fr om its assembly hangar to Launch Complex 1 overlooking the Pacific Ocean Thursday, U.S. time, a Rocket Lab spokesperson told Spaceflight Now.

The rocket will be raised vertically on its launch mount, and Rocket Lab officials will assess the launcher's readiness and weather conditions before proceeding with the countdown Friday.

The Electron rocket's second launch comes more than six months after Rocket Lab's first orbital launch attempt, which ended prematurely May 25 when a ground tracking computer feeding data to the range safety team stopped receiving signals from the launcher around four minutes after liftoff.

The flight safety officer inside Rocket Lab's launch control center followed established procedures and sent the command to shut down the Electron's second stage engine after the data dropout.

Investigators traced the mishap's cause to a software programming error in a tracking system provided by a third-party contractor, and Rocket Lab's own ground systems — operating in a shadow mode on the maiden flight — did not suffer the same problem.

With a launch base, control center and factory in New Zealand, Rocket Lab also has a headquarters in Southern California, wh ere it is outfitting a second rocket assembly plant. Eventually aiming to launch as often as once per week, the U.S.-New Zealand company operates under the regulatory umbrella of the FAA.

The FAA announced earlier this week it issued a commercial launch license for the Electron rocket's second flight.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143902.jpg)
The second Electron rocket is pictured on its side at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. Credit: Rocket Lab

The May 25 test flight, dubbed "It's a Test," demonstrated good performance of the Electron rocket's first stage, and the launcher's second stage engine ignited and payload fairing jettisoned as designed before the mission was terminated.

The results raised hopes the second Electron launch, christened "Still Testing" by Rocket Lab, could successfully reach orbit. Engineers also minimized changes to the rocket, with the most significant upgrade in the second stage, which will debut stretched propellant tanks to accommodate more fuel, O'Donnell told Spaceflight Now.

"The performance we saw from the vehicle was really good," he said in a phone interview Tuesday from Rocket Lab's development facility in Auckland. "It was actually in the upper bounds of the performance we expected, so that was really positive.

"The vehicle this time around is slightly longer," O'Donnell said. "That's really just a tank stretch. It doesn't relate to any changes with the engines or other functional parts of the vehicle. From the good data that we got from that first launch, we're confident that the majority of those systems are fine, which was really reassuring."

But the upcoming mission is still considered a demonstration, and Rocket Lab has a third Electron vehicle built that could launch in early 2018 on a third test flight — if necessary — before the company begins operational launches. Rocket Lab officials said commercial service could be accelerated to begin on the third Electron launch if the second flight goes well.

Rocket Lab said the weather outlook for Sunday does not look favorable, so the launch could slip to Monday (Sunday night in the United States) if officials order a further delay.

"Our weather limits are pretty generous for the vehicle," O'Donnell said in an interview with Spaceflight Now. "We've got pretty decent ground level winds.

"One of our biggest issues is triboelectrification in the high clouds," O'Donnell said, referring to the potentially dangerous build-up of static electricity on the rocket as it soars through high-level clouds. "It's one of those things that could happen any time of year, and that can cause potential issues."

A dedicated team will monitor real-time conditions during the countdown in case weather takes a negative turn.

Refined kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen will be loaded into both stages of the Electron rocket in the final hours of the countdown, and a final automated launch sequence will commence at T-minus 2 minutes to oversee the last steps before liftoff

The Electron's nine Rutherford main engines, mounted in a circular web-like configuration at the base of the first stage, will ignite at T-minus 2 seconds.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143898.jpg)
File photo of the Electron rocket's nine Rutherford first stage main engines on a previous vehicle. Credit: Rocket Lab

The Rutherford main engines, developed in-house by Rocket Lab, will generate around 34,500 pounds of thrust at liftoff and power up to 41,500 pounds of thrust as the rocket climbs into the upper atmosphere. The Rutherford engines use electric turbopumps, an innovation in the launch industry that first flew on the Electron rocket.

The first stage engines are scheduled to shut down around two-and-a-half minutes into the flight, and the booster will release to fall into the Pacific Ocean four seconds later. Ignition of the second stage's single Rutherford engine is slated for T+plus 2 minutes, 36 seconds.

Separation of the Electron's nose shroud, which covers the three shoebox-sized CubeSats riding on the launch, is planned at T+plus 3 minutes, 4 seconds.

The second stage engine is programmed to fire more than five-and-a-half minutes until T+plus 8 minutes, 14 seconds. The second stage burn will be around 50 seconds longer than the firing planned on the Electron's first test launch, thanks to enlarged propellant tanks that extend about a half-meter (1.6 feet) longer than the tanks on the inaugural flight, O'Donnell said.

"It just gives us more payload, essentially, thanks to a longer burn time," O'Donnell said of the bigger second stage.

The three CubeSats — one from Planet and two from Spire Global — will release out of Rocket Lab's Maxwell deployers at T+plus 8 minutes, 31 seconds.

Planet's CubeSat, named "Dove Pioneer," will join the company's fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. Spire's Lemur-2 CubeSats are used to track ship traffic and collect atmospheric measurements to aid weather forecasters.

Rocket Lab says it charges $4.9 million per Electron flight, significantly less than any other launch provider flying today, and offer a dedicated ride for payloads that currently must ride piggyback with a larger payload.

The company has a launch contract to place several CubeSats in orbit for NASA next year, along with future launch agreements with Planet, Moon Express and Spaceflight, which books launches of small satellites from various commercial and scientific customers.

With money from venture capital funds in Silicon Valley and New Zealand, along with a strategic investment from Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab completed the design and qualification of the Electron rocket with less than $100 million since the company was established in 2006, according to Peter Beck, the company's CEO and founder.

Rocket Lab's progress was marked with test launches of more than 80 sounding rockets since the company's formation. If the second Electron mission reaches orbit, it will mark the first orbital launch from New Zealand.

"What we're looking for (on the second launch) is just to close off that final few minutes that we didn't see on the first flight, wh ere we're getting into orbit, we're completing the burn of the second stage and we're releasing some payloads, which would really be the cherry on top," O'Donnell said.

"It is still a test," he said. "We had originally planned for three test flights, so we're fully prepared to run that third test as well if we don't get everything we need from this one."

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 1 ч назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/939022486003376128)

Still Testing is on the pad at LC-1 and looking healthy. Ideal launch conditions open up Monday. Currently targeting no earlier than 2.30 pm Monday 11 December NZDT (Sunday, 8.30 pm EST/5.30 pm PST).
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171611.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 6 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/939934870054334467)

Rocket Lab says a launch attempt for its second Electron rocket is on track for today at 8:30pm EST (0130 GMT Monday). The booster's test flight will aim to deploy three CubeSats into low Earth orbit. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/10/electron-still-testing-mission-status-center/ ... (https://t.co/qD5CK62dtd)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171746.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/939936760393474049)

Conditions are looking good for a #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) Electron launch attempt today. Launch could happen any time between 14:30 - 18:30 NZDT. More updates and livestream details to follow throughout the day.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171750.jpg)

Цитировать12/11/2017 00:23 Electron rocket vertical

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket has been raised vertical at Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's North Island in preparation for fueling with liquid propellants. This image provided by Rocket Lab was taken a few minutes ago.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/361195.jpg)

Цитировать12/11/2017 03:34

Rocket Lab says today's launch is likely to occur some time after the opening of the four-hour launch window, not at the start of the available window at 8:30 p.m. EST (0130 GMT).

ЦитироватьLaunch timeline for the Electron rocket's second test flight
December 10, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Rocket Lab's light-class Electron launcher is set to take off on its second orbital test flight from New Zealand, aiming to deliver three small shoebox-sized CubeSats into low Earth orbit for Planet and Spire.
The two-stage, 55-foot-tall (17-meter) rocket could take off as soon as 8:30 p.m. EST Sunday (0130 GMT Monday) from Rocket Lab's commercial launch complex on Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island.

Спойлер

The privately-developed Electron launcher is making its second flight after its maiden flight in May reached space, but faltered before reaching orbit. While the second flight is still considered a test — Rocket Lab has christened the mission "Still Testing" — three CubeSats are on-board from California-based companies Planet and Spire.

The timeline posted below is accompanied by animation provided by Rocket Lab that illustrates the approximate appearance of the major flight events.

Data source: Rocket Lab

T-0:00:00: Liftoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143878.jpg)
The Electron rocket lifts off on the power of four kerosene-fueled Rutherford main engines, generating 34,500 pounds of thrust at liftoff and powering up to 41,500 pounds of thrust as the rocket climbs into the upper atmosphere.

T+0:01:20: Max-Q

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143879.jpg)
The Electron rocket experiences the most intense aerodynamic pressures at this phase of flight.

T+0:02:30: MECO

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143880.jpg)
The nine first stage Rutherford main engines shut down after a two-and-a-half minute burn.

T+0:02:34: First Stage Separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143883.jpg)
The Electron's first stage separates from its second stage.

T+0:02:36: Second Stage Ignition

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143876.jpg)
The Electron's second stage Rutherford engine ignites to continue the trip into orbit, producing approximately 5,000 pounds of thrust in vacuum.

T+0:03:04: Fairing Jettison

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143877.jpg)
The Electron rocket's payload fairing, which protected the satellites during the initial phase of ascent, jettisons once the rocket is above the dense, lower layers of the atmosphere. The composite 3.9-foot-diameter (1.2-meter) shroud will fall into the Pacific Ocean.

T+0:08:14: SECO

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143882.jpg)
The second stage's Rutherford vacuum engine shuts down after reaching a targeted elliptical orbit with an apogee, or high point, of 310 miles (500 kilometers), a perigee, or low point, of 186 miles (300 kilometers), and an inclination of 83 degrees.

T+0:08:31: Payload Separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143881.jpg)
Two CubeSats from Spire and one CubeSat from Planet will begin their separation sequence once the second stage achieves orbit and shuts down.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьRocket Lab - Still Testing - Livestream

  (https://www.youtube.com/user/RocketLabNZ) Rocket Lab (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsWq7LZaizhIi-c-Yo_bcpw)

Запланировано на 11 дек. 2017 г.

youtube.com/watch?v=hx52QKgF_HM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx52QKgF_HM)

(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/78370)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 18 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940022496039813120)

#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) daily launch window is almost open. Target lift-off time between 14:30 - 18:30 NZDT (1:30 - 5:30 UTC) to be provided shortly.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 5 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940031491521757186)

Still Testing launch attempt scrubbed for the day. Weather factors and orbital traffic mean opportunities for launch today are tight, so we'll try again tomorrow. Updates on new launch target to follow.

Цитировать12/11/2017 04:38

Tomorrow's launch window is expected to be identical today's, opening at 8:30 p.m. EST Monday (0130 GMT Tuesday) and extending four hours.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29262.jpg) Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust) 15 мин назад (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/940039407133851648)

Rocket Lab, in a statement, says "A combination of poor weather closing in and conjunction with the International Space Station left a narrow six minute window for a launch attempt," hence the scrub. Try again no sooner than tomorrow.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 31 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940322150006661121)

The Rocket Lab launch team is on console and readying Electron for the push to orbit today from Launch Complex-1. The 4 hour window opens from 14:30 NZDT (1:30 UTC/ Mon 20:30 EST/17:30 PST). Anticipated lift-off time to follow. #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash)

Цитировать [IMG] Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 31 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940322150006661121)

The Rocket Lab launch team is on console and readying Electron for the push to orbit today from Launch Complex-1. The 4 hour window opens from 14:30 NZDT (1:30 UTC/ Mon 20:30 EST/17:30 PST). Anticipated lift-off time to follow. #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash)

Цитироватьyoutube.com/watch?v=F_oAGlhFezo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_oAGlhFezo)

(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/78464)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 48 мин48 минут назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940370133142315008)

Currently targeting no earlier than 16:00 NZDT (3:00 UTC) for #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch attempt. Weather looking good, but we're continuing to monitor. Webcast can be viewed at https://youtu.be/F_oAGlhFezo  (https://t.co/iHjDAlywqX). Live coverage will begin approx. 15 minutes prior to launch attempt.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 20 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940392993390866433)

LOx fill underway. #Electron (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Electron?src=hash) #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171835.jpg)

Цитировать12/12/2017 05:53

We're standing by for the start of the Rocket Lab launch webcast, which is now expected to begin at 10:05 p.m. EST (0305 GMT), suggesting liftoff has been pushed back further into today's window.

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:39

A poll of the launch team a few moments ago resulted in a "go" to continue the countdown. Upcoming milestones include the retraction of the strongback structure at Launch Complex 1, and the start of the terminal countdown sequencer.

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:42

The Electron's first stage engines are reported ready for flight, and the strongback tower next to the rocket has been retracted for liftoff. All separation events have been confirmed armed.

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:46

The Electron rocket's flight termination system, which would be used if the vehicle strayed from its flight profile, has been confirmed green and on internal power.

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:47

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The range is reported clear for launch at 10:50 p.m. EST (0350 GMT; 4:50 p.m. New Zealand time).

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:49

T-minus 2 minutes. Auto sequence start.

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:51

ABORT. The Electron's liftoff has been aborted at ignition.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 34 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/940429270899396610)

Rocket still on pad and intact. RocketLabs talking about seeing if they can try again later in this window, but I doubt it - we'll see.

Цитировать12/12/2017 06:53

The strongback is being raised into position next to the Electron rocket as the Rocket Lab launch team steps through post-abort safing procedures.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29262.jpg) Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust) 8 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/940430143578890240)

Scrub for the day.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 15 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940430385560797184)

Still Testing scrubbed for the day while team reviews data. Updates on a new attempt to follow.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 20 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/940426032653402112)

Electron's payload today is @planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs) Dove 0F1C ("Dove Pioneer" ) and two @spireglobal (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal) Lemur-2 sats whose names are not yet public.

4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/940430239754223616)

The two Lemur cubesats on Electron. The first presumably named after @tallhamn (https://twitter.com/tallhamn). Second perhaps named after Spire/Glasgow's Richard Marshall.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186061.jpg) Spire‏ @SpireGlobal (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal) 12 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal/status/940428598636265472)

LEMUR2-TALLHAMN-ATC and LEMUR2-MARSHALL

ЦитироватьRocket Lab - Still Testing - Launch Attempt 12/12/2017

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220743.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/RocketLabNZ) Rocket Lab (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsWq7LZaizhIi-c-Yo_bcpw)

Трансляция началась 11 часов назад

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 36 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940765307483848704)

Analysis of yesterday's launch attempt is complete. Launch was aborted due to rising liquid oxygen temperatures - the result of a LOx chilldown bleed schedule not compatible with the warm conditions of the day. The fix is simple.

Next attempt tomorrow! #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 40 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/941045854516813824)

Today's #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch attempt is currently targeted between 14:30-18:30 NZDT (1:30-5:30 UTC). Keeping an eye on weather. Updates on launch time to follow.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 25 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/941062557099368448)

Electron is now vertical at Launch Complex-1. #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171568.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 42 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/941076251493662720)

Rocket Lab begins new countdown with fix in place for propulsion system glitch that aborted a launch countdown two days ago. Liftoff from New Zealand is set during a four-hour window opening at 8:30pm EST tonight (0130 GMT Thursday). Details: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/13/rocket-lab-begins-new-countdown-with-fix-for-propulsion-system-glitch/ ... (https://t.co/HGCdxfa8is)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171561.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab begins new countdown with fix for propulsion system glitch
December 13, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143873.jpg)
The 55-foot-tall (17-meter) Electron rocket was raised vertical again on its launch pad in New Zealand ahead of a launch attempt Wednesday (U.S. time). Credit: Rocket Lab

With a fix in place for a propulsion system alarm that cut short a countdown in the final seconds Monday, U.S. time, Rocket Lab is readying an Electron rocket for another try in a window opening at 8:30 p.m. EST Wednesday (0130 GMT Tuesday) to begin a test flight aiming to deliver three small commercial CubeSats to orbit from a remote New Zealand launch pad.

Спойлер

Peter Beck, founder of the U.S.-New Zealand rocket company, said engineers have identified the problem that prevented liftoff on the Electron rocket's last launch attempt on Tuesday afternoon in New Zealand, or Monday night, U.S. time.

Liquid oxygen feeding into one of the Electron booster's nine Rutherford engines was too warm, and the computer-controlled countdown sequencer automatically ordered an abort at T-minus 2 seconds, moments after the engines ignited at Launch Complex 1, a commercial base on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.

Liquid oxygen valves leading into the Rutherford engines are opened during the final minutes of an Electron countdown, allowing the super-cold fluid chilled to approximately minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 184 degrees Celsius) to flow through propulsion system. The "chilldown" procedure ensures the engine components are properly conditioned for start-up.

"We send LOX (liquid oxygen) through the engine to cool the engine as any crogenic engine does," Beck told Spaceflight Now in a phone interview. "The conditions of the day were a lot warmer than we've ever experienced, and basically we need to increase the duration of the chilldown schedule, or the bleed schedule. We're basically bleeding liquid oxygen through the vehicle, through the engines, to chill the engines up.

"While they were within our operational limits, on a test flight we have the bounds pulled right in, so it exceeded one of the bounds on the temperature. So as the engine started, it wasn't happy with the LOX temperature and it shut the engines down," he said.

On the next countdown, programmers have reworked the sequence to start the chilldown procedure earlier.

"It's as simple as that," Beck said.

The next four-hour launch opportunity opens at 8:30 p.m. EST Wednesday (0130 GMT; 2:30 p.m. New Zealand time Thursday). Rocket Lab has a broader launch period extending through Dec. 17 pre-approved by New Zealand airspace authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration, which has regulatory oversight of Electron launch operations because Rocket Lab is headquartered in Southern California.

Beck said Rocket Lab's launch team has rehearsed a last-second abort, but Monday's countdown was the first time the practice was put into action.

"When you get down to two seconds and engine ignition, of course there's a lot of excitement in the room at that point, but the vehicle is very advanced, with its checking and instrumentation, and the electric turbopumps really enable this kind of thing to occur," Beck said in a phone interview from Rocket Lab's manufacturing center in Auckland.

The Rutherford engines, developed and produced in-house at Rocket Lab, burn kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants to generate nearly 4,000 pounds of thrust at sea level — and higher power at high altitude. Their 3D-printed pumps are driven by battery-powered electric motors, not gas-driven turbopumps used on large rocket engines.

"The sort of fidelity we have with those is very good," Beck said of the electric pumps. "On a traditional launch vehicle, its quite a major (deal) to have an ignition and then be prepared for the next day. For us, because of the electric turbopump,s we just shut down, we do an engine purge, and we're ready to go."

Weather at the New Zealand launch base, owned an operated by Rocket Lab, will be monitored throughout the day as the launch team prepares for the opening of next launch window.

"We are keeping an eye on the weather conditions," Beck said in an interview. "We don't have as good of a day as we did (Monday, U.S. time), but the day is certainly good enough to go for a launch attempt."

Beck is optimistic the launch can occur before pre-approved launch period closes Dec. 17 (New Zealand time), but officials could extend the period or negotiate a new window if conditions don't allow it.

"We made it through all of the auto sequence and terminal count ,and everything on the vehicle was green, so we're pretty hopeful we'll get it off before the end of the window."

The two-stage Electron rocket will head south from its launch pad on Mahia Peninsula, targeting deployment of three CubeSats provided by two California-based companies — Spire and Planet — in a polar-type orbit ranging between 186 and 310 miles (300-500 kilometers) above Earth.

It will be the second flight of an Electron rocket after a May 25 test launch reached space, but faltered before it attained the speed required to enter orbit.

Rocket Lab blamed a programming error in ground tracking equipment for the vehicle's inability to each orbit. The malfunction caused range safety officers to lose track of the rocket, and they followed procedures to send a termination command to the booster.

The rocket was performing well up to that point around four minutes after liftoff, officials said. The first stage burned as planned for two-and-a-half minutes, and the second stage's modified Rutherford engine ignited as designed.

No payloads were aboard the May 25 test flight.

Rocket Lab officials hope the second mission, which it calls "Still Testing," will prove out the rest of the Electron rocket's systems through the remainder of the second stage burn, and then demonstrate the launcher's ability to release payloads in orbit.

Backed by venture capital funds in the United States and New Zealand, along with strategic financial investments from Lockheed Martin and the government of New Zealand, Rocket Lab designed the Electron rocket to place up to 225 pounds (150 kilograms) of payload into a sun-synchronous polar orbit, filling a niche in the commercial launch market that analysts say is currently under-addressed.

An Electron launch sells for around $4.9 million, according to Rocket Lab.

[свернуть]

Цитироватьyoutube.com/watch?v=RqpCFDQLWrE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqpCFDQLWrE)

(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/78618)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67521.jpg) Stephen Clark‏ @StephenClark1 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) 2 мин назад (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/941083102587379712)

Peter Beck of Rocket Lab tells me a fix is in place for tonight's launch attempt to avoid another last-second abort. Liquid oxygen temps were too warm in one of the Electron's engines, so chilldown will begin a bit earlier in the terminal countdown. ...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 10 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/941103611316187137)

Currently holding while the team monitors upper level winds. #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash)

Цитировать12/14/2017 03:38

Rocket Lab reports the countdown is holding to wait for more favorable upper level winds. Launch is not expected to occur at the opening of today's four-hour window, which extends until 12:30 a.m. EST (0530 GMT; 6:30 p.m. New Zealand time).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/941132018640855040)

#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch attempt waived off for the day due to increasing upper level winds. Next attempt tomorrow, pending optimal weather!

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/941134600339951617)

Rocket Lab has scrubbed today's launch attempt due to unfavorable upper level winds over the Electron rocket's New Zealand launch pad. Next attempt is set for no earlier than Thursday night (U.S. time). https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/10/electron-still-testing-mission-status-center/ ... (https://t.co/qD5CK62dtd)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171771.jpg)

Цитировать12/14/2017 06:36

Here is the statement from Rocket Lab on the status of the Electron test flight, which has been rescheduled for no earlier than 8:30 p.m. EST Thursday night (0130 GMT; 2:30 p.m. New Zealand time Friday):

ЦитироватьRocket Lab has made the decision to wave off today's test launch attempt of the Electron rocket due to high upper level winds.

The day opened as a no-go for launch due to high shear winds, however initial data indicated weather conditions could improve slightly to allow for a launch attempt as the day progressed.

Shortly prior to the daily launch window opening at 14:30 NZDT (1:30 UTC), weather data indicated core jet stream wind speeds would have violated conservative launch criteria set for a test flight. Parameters will be opened to allow for higher wind tolerances once commercial flights begin.

Rocket Lab is currently targeting no earlier than 14:30, Friday 15 December NZDT (1:30 UTC) for the next launch attempt, while continuing to monitor weather conditions. The 'Still Testing' launch window remains open until and including December 17 NZDT.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186171.jpg) Planet‏Подлинная учетная запись @planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planetlabs/status/941373811580006400)
 
Planet's view of Launch Complex-1 as @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) readies for today's #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch attempt with our Dove Pioneer aboard. Follow @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) for updates.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171922.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 14 мин назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/941493174182096897)

Today's launch attempt has been scrubbed following the identification of a power fault during ground checkouts. Team will work the issue tomorrow before a new target launch time is determined in coming days.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 18 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/941498218587844608)

Rocket Lab delays launch from New Zealand to no earlier than Saturday (Sunday in New Zealand) to resolve power fault https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/10/electron-still-testing-mission-status-center/ ... (https://t.co/qD5CK62dtd)

Цитировать12/15/2017 06:06

Sunday, Dec. 17, in New Zealand is the last launch date available in Rocket Lab's current 10-day launch period. The company says the pre-approved period could be extended into next week to allow more launch opportunities.

The original 10-day period, which opened Dec. 8, was granted by regulatory authorities overseeing the flight.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab‏Verified account @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · 2h (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/941925746838159361)

#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch attempt is now targeted for early 2018. Yesterday's power fault has been resolved, but with only one day remaining in the launch window we've decided to preserve crew rest and come back for an attempt in the new year.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab test launch delayed to early 2018
December 16, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143872.jpg)
Credit: Rocket Lab

The launch of a light-class booster by Rocket Lab, a U.S.-New Zealand company aiming to provide rides to orbit for small satellites, has been delayed to early next year after technical reviews, repairs and unfavorable weather combined to keep the test flight grounded this week.

Спойлер

The mission's pre-approved 10-day launch window closes Sunday, and while officials may have been able to extend the window to launch next week, Rocket Lab announced Saturday the test flight fr om a commercial launch pad on New Zealand's North Island would be postponed into the new year.

A power system problem detected during ground checkouts ahead of a planned countdown Thursday (U.S. time) was one of several factors in the delay.

"Corrective measures have been put in place for the power fault discovered during ground checkouts yesterday, however with only one day remaining in the launch window Rocket Lab has made the decision to delay an attempt until the new year," the company said in a statement Saturday. "The current launch window ends on Sunday (Dec. 17) and will not be extended in order to preserve crew rest."

The break will give launch crews time off during the holidays.

Rocket Lab said new launch window dates will be released when they are established early in the new year.

A launch attempt Monday (U.S. time) was aborted at T-minus 2 seconds, a second after the Electron rocket's nine Rutherford main engines ignited. Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck told Spaceflight Now that balmy weather at the New Zealand launch site caused cryogenic liquid oxygen propellant to get too warm, so the launch team planned to reconfigure the countdown's engine "chilldown" sequence to avoid the issue in the future.

High winds aloft over the launch site and other unacceptable weather conditions also prevented liftoff on some days during the 10-day window, according to Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is awaiting its second test flight. Three small CubeSats owned by two California-based companies — Spire and Planet — are on-board the rocket, which will try to reach an elliptical, egg-shaped polar-type orbit between 186 miles and 310 miles (300-500 kilometers) above Earth.

Rocket Lab has dubbed the second Electron mission "Still Testing" after the maiden Electron launch May 25 successfully demonstrated the performance of the rocket's first stage, and partially tested the second stage. A ground tracking error led safety officials to prematurely terminate the flight around four minutes after launch from New Zealand.

The upcoming test flight will seek to verify the rest of the Electron flight profile, which should inject the three CubeSats into orbit around eight-and-a-half minutes after liftoff.

Beck said engineers have set tight bounds on technical and weather parameters because the Electron rocket is still in its testing phase, prompting some of the launch scrubs over the last week.

Rocket Lab's two-stage Electron rocket, fueled by a mixture of rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen, stands around 55 feet (17 meters) tall and can place payloads up to 330 pounds (150 kilograms) into sun-synchronous orbit 300 miles (500 kilometers) above the planet.

For that service, Rocket Labs says it charges $4.9 million, significantly less than the price of any other dedicated launcher. Small satellite operators, including NASA, Silicon Valley firms and research institutions, have purchased rides for their payloads on Electron missions beginning next year.

Spacecraft that fall in the Electron's performance range currently have to book launches on rideshare missions. The schedules and orbital destinations for such missions are usually at the whim of a larger, primary payload, and the secondary passengers have little say in when or wh ere the rocket goes.

A small satellite launcher sized to give such payloads dedicated flights could find a niche in the launch market, and Rocket Lab is one of several companies developing rockets for microsatellites.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьRocket Lab Abandons "Still Testing" Launch Campaign Until Early 2018
December 18, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/rocket-lab-abandons-still-testing-launch-campaign-until-early-2018/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154157.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/DQ9TMkWUMAA2dQP.jpg)
Photo: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is ending its "Still Testing" launch campaign for 2017, moving the second test flight of the company's Electron launch vehicle into early 2018 after encountering weather and technical delays over the course of a week of attempts.

Спойлер

"Still Testing" has the objective of demonstrating the last push to orbit after the first Electron test flight in May managed to reach space but fell short of orbit after taking off from New Zealand.
...

... the second Electron rocket traveled from the company's manufacturing base near Auckland to the Mahia launch site in the first half November. Assembly of the two stage rocket and integration of the CubeSat Deployers set the stack up for final acceptance tests before Electron moved to the launch pad for a Wet Dress Rehearsal on November 30 in preparation for a launch period of December 8 through 18 with daily launch windows stretching from 1:30 to 5:30 UTC (2:30-6:30p.m. local time).

Due to unfavorable upper level winds, Rocket Lab pushed the mission to a launch target of Monday, December 11, but that attempt was halted due to weather conditions and orbital traffic in the form of the International Space Station that left only six minutes of usable window time. Engineers re-grouped and pressed into a 24-hour recycle as winds aloft finally shaped up to meet the tight requirements set for Electron's test flight program with future operational missions capable of dealing with a greater range of conditions.

Electron stood fully fueled with 11.4 metric tons of Liquid Oxygen and Rocket Propellant 1 when teams initiated the 12-minute terminal countdown sequence, aiming for a 3:50 UTC liftoff on December 12. The vehicle was handed control of the countdown at T-2 minutes and commanded its nine electric-pump-fed Rutherford engines to fire up at T-2 seconds. Flames erupted from the base of the rocket for a fraction of a second before Electron's computers commanded an abort and shut down the first stage. Launch Controllers at the Mahia launch site and Rocket Lab's Auckland control facility verified Electron was safe before proceeding with data reviews of the anomaly.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154162.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Electron-Still-Testing.jpg)
Photo: Rocket Lab

Data reviews showed the shutdown was triggered due to rising Liquid Oxygen temperatures caused by the rocket's LOX chilldown bleed schedule that turned out to be insufficient for the warm temperatures seen for the launch attempt. Implementation of a procedural fix was straightforward through adjustment of LOX valve cycles to increase the bleed. With the fix in place, Rocket Lab proceeded for an attempt on the 13th but winds aloft once again came in the way of getting Electron off the pad.

An attempt on Friday saw teams proceed into vehicle activation and checkouts despite dicey upper level winds in the hopes of finding a window to safely send Electron on its way but efforts ended when a power system fault was discovered during ground checkouts. It was decided to troubleshoot the issue the following day which led to the successful resolution of the power system problem; however, Rocket Lab also made the decision to end attempts for 2017 and move the rocket back into the hangar for an attempt in early 2018.

Factors that played into the decision were crew rest considerations and the fact that only one day remained in the ten-day window that had been reserved for the mission with local authorities controlling the maritime and aeronautical safety zones around Mahia Peninsula. No new launch period has been reserved for the mission.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154158.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/DQzyOdqVAAEiqFA-1.jpg)
Photo: Rocket Lab

"Still Testing" has the primary objective of demonstrating Electron can reach orbit and the flight is also carrying three pathfinder satellites – two Lemur ship-tracking & atmospheric profiling satellites operated by Spire Global and a lone Dove from San Francisco-based Planet as both companies took the opportunity of launching inexpensive CubeSats on Electron to validate pre-launch integration and launch procedures for future launches since both are expected to become customers for regular Electron missions. ...

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьRocket Lab‏ @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · 1h (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/951529210123710464)

New year, new #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch window! A nine day launch window opens January 20 NZDT for our second Electron rocket. Target lift-off during this time will be between 14:30 - 18:30 NZDT (1:30 - 5:30 UTC). We'll be live streaming.

ЦитироватьНовозеландское поздразделение американской космической компании Rocket Lab запустит свою легкую ракету-носитель Electron во время девятидневного стартового окна, которое откроется 20 января. Об этом сообщается в пресс-релизе на официальном сайте компании.

Спойлер

Rocket Lab разрабатывала двухступенчатую ракету сверхлегкого класса Electron с 2012 года. Она может выводить до 225 килограмм на низкую околоземную орбиту и до 150 килограмм на солнечно-синхронную орбиту. Первый запуск ракеты состоялся в мае 2017 года и был признан неудачным — головная часть ракеты не смогла выйти на расчетную орбиту.

Второй запуск ракеты был запланирован на десятидневное стартовое окно, открывшееся 8 декабря 2017 года. В течение этого времени запуск Electron откладывали несколько раз. В итоге, еще до закрытия стартового окна было принято решение перенести запуск на январь.

Генеральный директор Rocket Lab Питер Бек (Peter Beck) сообщил, что конкретный день для успешного запуска во время стартового окна определят погодные условия и полная техническая готовность Electron.

Ракеты будет запущена со стартовой площадки компании на новозеландском полуострове Махия. С помощью Electron предполагается доставить на орбиту три спутника формата CubeSat: Dove Pioneer, предназначенных для съемки поверхности Земли, а также два спутника Lemur-2 с оборудованием для отслеживания морских судов и метеорологических наблюдений.

Другой космический стартап, американская компания Vector Space Systems, провела первый успешный запуск легкой коммерческой ракеты в августе прошлого года.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьДругой космический стартап, американская компания Vector Space Systems, провела первый успешный запуск легкой коммерческой ракеты в августе прошлого года

Цитировать#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) roll-out preparations are well underway today at Launch Complex-1. Tomorrow's four hour launch window opens at 14:30 NZDT (17:30 PT/ 20:30 ET / 1:30 UTC). Once again, we'll be waiting for ideal launch conditions. More updates to follow!


15:03 - 18 янв. 2018 г.

Цитироватьus2-star пишет: 
Once again, we'll be waiting for ideal launch conditions.

Цитироватьus2-star пишет:
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/954127104601292800

Цитировать#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) roll-out preparations are well underway today at Launch Complex-1. Tomorrow's four hour launch window opens at 14:30 NZDT (17:30 PT/ 20:30 ET / 1:30 UTC). Once again, we'll be waiting for ideal launch conditions. More updates to follow!


15:03 - 18 янв. 2018 г.

Цитировать@RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 18 минут назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/954432085376159744)

The #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) launch window opens today! Currently targeting no earlier than 14:30 NZDT (17:30 PT/ 20:30 ET / 1:30 UTC). Launch preparations underway. Updates to come.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172630.jpg)

ЦитироватьАндрей Суворов пишет:
А, то есть, завтра по Москве в 4:30. Понятно.

ЦитироватьРакета "Электрон"была поднята вертикально перед возможной попыткой запуска сегодня. Окно открывается в 8:30 вечера est (0130 GMT; 2:30 вечера по новозеландскому времени).

ЦитироватьЗаправка двухступенчатой ракеты-носителя керосином должна начаться примерно за четыре часа до взлета, а с пускового комплекса 1 на Новозеландском полуострове Махия планируется эвакуировать весь персонал примерно за два с половиной часа до запуска.

ЦитироватьКриогенный жидкий кислород начнет поступать в двухступенчатую ракету на T-минус 2 часа,

Цитироватьтерминальный отсчет начинается на T-минус 10 минут.

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
может здесь?
 https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/19/electron-still-testing-mission-status-center-2/

ЦитироватьThe Electron countdown is at T-minus 20 minutes and holding due to weather. Rocket Lab's webcast is expected to begin once the countdown resumes.

ЦитироватьЭлектронный отсчет находится на T-минус 20 минут и удержание из-за погоды.

Цитировать

ЦитироватьВ настоящее время #StillTesting планирует начать отсчет не ранее, чем 15:36 NZDT (18:36 PT / 21:36 ET / 2.36 UTC), в ожидании идеальных погодных условий.

Currently targeting #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) lift off no earlier than 15:36 NZDT (18:36 PT / 21:36 ET / 2.36 UTC), while we wait for ideal weather conditions.

ЦитироватьЖдут идеальной погоды на T= -20 minutes.

Цитировать01/20/2018 06:02(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124383.png) Stephen Clark

T-minus 8 minutes and counting. The Electron's first stage engines are reported ready for flight, and the strongback tower next to the rocket has been retracted for liftoff. All hold-down mechanisms and separation events have been confirmed armed.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab has set a new target launch time of no earlier than 11:20 p.m. EST (0420 GMT) as safety crews work to clear the vessel that strayed too close to the Electron booster's projected flight path.

ЦитироватьMeanwhile, weather is deteriorating at the launch site on New Zealand's North Island. Officials continue monitoring weather conditions to see if another launch attempt can proceed today.

ЦитироватьThe meteorology team tracking weather conditions at the Mahia Peninsula launch site says conditions are worsening and may prevent liftoff today.

Цитироватьinstml пишет:
Ждём подтверждения от заказчиков или Космокомандования США ))

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/881434746768596992/KJIymPWv_normal.jpg)Planet

✔@planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs)




We've confirmed Dove Pioneer is successfully in orbit! More soon.
4:56 AM - Jan 21, 2018 (https://twitter.com/planetlabs/status/954895354360512513)

Цитироватьinstml пишет:
Ждём подтверждения от заказчиков или Космокомандования США ))

ЦитироватьАлихан Исмаилов пишет:
Это означает что остальным аналогичным компаниям конец?

ЦитироватьSpaceflight101‏ @Spaceflight101 (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101) · 49m (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101/status/954917805954084864)

#StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) achieved a good orbit. First object cataloged as 43163 (2018-010A) in a 289 by 533-Kilometer orbit, 82.93°. (Target was 300 x 500 km, 83°) #Electron (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Electron?src=hash)

ЦитироватьSpire‏ @SpireGlobal (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal) · 2h (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal/status/954911681817145344)

Just got a couple of incredible images from our friends at @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab). Welcome to space, LEMUR2-TALLHAMN-ATC and LEMUR2-MARSHALL! Good clean deployment - a great to start to their many orbits of data collection!

ЦитироватьJonathan McDowell‏ @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) · 8m (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/954944480662212608)

Six Electron objects cataloged as 43163-43168. Two objects are in 494 x 534 km x 82.9 deg orbit; three in lower-peri 290 x 530 km, and one with no TLEs yet. @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) · 10m (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/954941841090031616)

Today marks the beginning of a new era in commercial access to space. Thank you to @planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs) and @SpireGlobal (https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal) for joining us on this ride. #Electron (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Electron?src=hash) #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) #PassedTheTest (https://twitter.com/hashtag/PassedTheTest?src=hash)

Цитироватьche wi пишет:

ЦитироватьJonathan McDowell ‏ @planet4589 · 8m (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/954944480662212608)

Six Electron objects cataloged as 43163-43168. Two objects are in 494 x 534 km x 82.9 deg orbit; three in lower-peri 290 x 530 km, and one with no TLEs yet. @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab)

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

А что на 290 х 530 ?

Цитироватьche wi пишет:

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

А что на 290 х 530 ?

ПН, надо полагать: Dove Pioneer (Dove 0F1C), Lemur-2 #72 (Tallhamn-ATC), Lemur-2 #73 (Marshall).

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет: 
А что на 290 х 530 ?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186171.jpg)  Planet‏Подлинная учетная запись @planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs)  5 ч.5 часов назад (https://twitter.com/planetlabs/status/954895354360512513)  
We've confirmed Dove Pioneer is successfully in orbit! More soon.

ЦитироватьJeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust) · 4h (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/954914537857339393)

Spoke briefly this evening with Rocket Lab's Peter Beck. A lot of data analysis ahead, but everything so far indicates the vehicle performed as planned, releasing the payloads into 300x500 km orbit "well within our commercial accuracy."

ЦитироватьHuntington Beach, California and Auckland, New Zealand January 21 2018:

Rocket Lab has successfully reached orbit with the test flight of its second Electron orbital launch vehicle, Still Testing. Electron lifted-off at 14:43 NZDT from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand.

Following successful first and second stage burns, Electron reached orbit and deployed customer payloads at 8 minutes and 31 seconds after lift-off.

Спойлер

"Today marks the beginning of a new era in commercial access to space. We're thrilled to reach this milestone so quickly after our first test launch," says Rocket Lab CEO and founder Peter Beck. "Our incredibly dedicated and talented team have worked tirelessly to develop, build and launch Electron. I'm immensely proud of what they have achieved today."

"Reaching orbit on a second test flight is significant on its own, but successfully deploying customer payloads so early in a new rocket program is almost unprecedented. Rocket Lab was founded on the principal of opening access to space to better understand our planet and improve life on it. Today we took a significant step towards that," he says.  

In the coming weeks Rocket Lab engineers will analyse the data from today's launch to inform future launches. Rocket Lab currently has five Electron vehicles in production, with the next launch expected to take place in early 2018.  At full production, Rocket Lab expects to launch more than 50 times a year, and is regulated to launch up to 120 times a year, more than any other commercial or government launch provider in history.

Still Testing was carrying a Dove Pioneer Earth-imaging satellite for launch customer Planet, as well as two Lemur-2 satellites for weather and ship tracking company Spire.

Rocket Lab's commercial phase will see Electron fly already-signed customers including NASA, Spire, Planet, Moon Express and Spaceflight.

[свернуть]

Цитироватьinstml пишет:
Теперь ждём Virgin Orbit и Vector, оба приблизительно в середине 2018.

ЦитироватьВасилий Ратников пишет:

теперь осталось показать что могут экономически, надо удешевлять, что бы стоимость за кг была привлекательной для кубосатов.
Ибо рынок кубосатов должен быть дешевым

ЦитироватьАмериканская частная компания Rocket Lab доставила на орбиту три спутника
МОСКВА, 21 янв — РИА Новости. Американская частная космическая компания Rocket Lab осуществила в воскресенье успешный запуск ракеты-носителя "Электрон" со стартовой площадки в Новой Зеландии, ракета доставила на орбиту три спутника для коммерческих заказчиков, сообщается на сайте компании.
"Rocket Lab успешно достигла орбиты в результате испытания второй ракеты-носителя "Электрон" (под названием) Still Testing", — говорится в сообщении компании.
Ракета стартовала с полуострова Махия на северо-востоке Новой Зеландии в 14.43 по местному времени в воскресенье (5.43 мск). Через 8 минут 31 секунду после запуска и отделения первой и второй ступеней "Электрон" "достиг орбиты и доставил коммерческие грузы". Как отмечается на сайте компании, один из спутников, выведенных на орбиту, предназначается для компании Planet Lab, которая делает снимки Земли из космоса, два других — для компании Spire, которая занимается сбором данных из космоса для отслеживания движения кораблей и прогнозом погоды.
В сентябре 2016 года Rocket Lab сообщила об окончании строительства первого в мире частного космодрома в Новой Зеландии, начатого в декабре 2015 года. Компания планировала использовать космодром для запуска сверхлегких ракет-носителей.
В мае прошлого года компания осуществила первый запуск ракеты "Электрон" со стартовой площадки в Новой Зеландии, однако тогда не удалось вывести ракету на орбиту. Сообщалось, что основным назначением "Электрона" является доставка на орбиту небольших спутников и других мелких грузов. Одной из особенностей ракеты является двигатель, созданный по технологии объемной печати.

ЦитироватьAstro Cat пишет:
Видео. https://youtu.be/4kxXGN3W-Qo?t=90

Че то какую то спиральку заложила на 3й мнуте но все выровнялось.

ЦитироватьПлейшнер пишет:

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:
А что на 290 х 530 ?

Аккумуляторы?

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

Мож МакДауэл ошибся маленько - у кого есть выход на СпейсТрек - уточните, плиз (у меня прям сейчас нет)

Цитироватьche wi пишет:
Почему ошибся?

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

Где-то целевые ПН запуска есть? Что-то сходу не смог найти.

ЦитироватьMr Beck, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast, teased that there was another object taken to space, possibly belonging to Rocket Lab themselves.

"I wasn't just going to put up everybody else's payload," he said.

"There's much more to this mission than meets the eye and we'll make an announcement about that in the next couple of days."

Цитироватьche wi пишет:

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

Где-то целевые ПН запуска есть? Что-то сходу не смог найти.

Целевая для кубсатов – 300 x 500 км (упоминается, например, в ноябрьской статье (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/16/second-electron-rocket-shipped-to-new-zealand-launch-site/) С.Кларка), Макдауэлл приводит данные из TLE о наличии трёх объектов на 290 x 530 км. Не вижу ошибки.

ЦитироватьПлейшнер пишет:
Если на 290х530 видим только три кубсата и не видим там ступени, то получается что на околокруговую довывелась сама ступень? Если они испытали повторное включение то это о-очень круто

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:
Ну если на 290х530 - три ПН, то очевидно на круге 2 ступень и что-то интересное.
ИМХО в нынешних реалиях включение после отделения ПН требуется для схода с орбиты - многие Заказчики выставляют это условие, как ни странно.
Хотя мелкосатчики и не так требовательны может будут.

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

то очевидно на круге 2 ступень и что-то интересное

Цитироватьche wi пишет:

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

то очевидно на круге 2 ступень и что-то интересное

Может и не особо интересное, пара кубсат-макетов, например. Просто для демонстрации возможности вывода на круговую.

ЦитироватьПлейшнер пишет:
Например ступень и адаптер

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:

ЦитироватьПлейшнер пишет:
Например ступень и адаптер

Ну это вообще бестолковое засорение ОКП получается.

ЦитироватьПлейшнер пишет:

Например ступень и адаптер

ЦитироватьTranscript from Rocket Lab 'Still Testing' attempt
"Flight VMS, mission coord..."
"Go ahead, VMS"
"Do you want any hold points?"
"Say again"
"Do you want any hold points?"
"I... didn't get'cha. One more time."
"Do you want any hold points? As in, do you want to hold again at T-... 18, or 20?"
"I never want to hold again."

ЦитироватьSOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The successful launch of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket Jan. 20 also tested a kick stage designed to circularize the orbits of its satellite payloads.

The company said Jan. 23 that the Electron carried a kick stage for the two Lemur-2 cubesats it launched for Spire. The kick stage separated from the Electron's upper stage and, after a 40-minute coast phase, fired an engine called Curie to circularize its orbits before releasing the cubesats.

The Electron's upper stage placed the kick stage, as well as a Dove cubesat from Planet, into orbits of approximately 300 by 500 kilometers. Data from the U.S. Strategic Command's Space Track website shows that three of the objects, not identified but believed to be the two Lemur-2 cubesats and the kick stage, are in orbits with perigees of 490 to 500 kilometers and apogees of 530 to 535 kilometers, far more circular than the other objects tracked from the launch.

Rocket Lab, which had not previously disclosed the development of the kick stage, said it pursued the system to provide its customers more flexibility in the orbits it could achieve with its vehicle and how it could deploy those satellites.

Спойлер

"We saw the need to be able to deploy satellites in different orbits," said Rocket Lab Chief Executive Peter Beck in an interview. He cited as one use of the kick stage spacing out deployments of cubesats in different orbits. "We see that as being a real operational advantage for our customers."

Beck said the kick stage performed as planned on the launch. "It was 100 percent mission success," he said.

The heart of the kick stage is Curie, an engine developed by Rocket Lab. Beck described the engine, capable of performing multiple burns, as 3D-printed and using an unspecified "green" monopropellant. The name follows a trend by the company to name its engines after famous physicists: its Electron rocket is powered by engines named Rutherford.

Beck said the stage could perform a number of applications to change orbits of its payloads, but didn't disclose technical specifications like the stage's total delta-v. The stage could also lower its orbit after satellite deployments to minimize its time in orbit before reentry. "We can be much more conscious and deliberate about ensuring we don't leave stuff behind," he said.

On the Electron launch itself, which was the first successful flight of the small launch vehicle. Beck said the company was just starting an intensive review of the data collected during the test flight. "Everything is looking very good at this stage," he said. "We'll be accelerating into commercial operations since everything looks pretty nominal."

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьThe kick stage and Curie engine, developed under the hood and only announced after they had successfully flown a mission in space, expand the versatility of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket substantially. The kick stage even has its own precision gas thruster control system, avionics package, power source, and communications system. The small stage uses its propulsion system to de-orbit after the deploying its payload, reducing the amount of space junk left behind by launches.

Цитироватьche wi пишет:
Секретный пассажир

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 12 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/956214683069046785)

Introducing The Humanity Star - a bright, blinking satellite now orbiting Earth, visible to the naked eye in the night sky. Launched on #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash), The Humanity Star is designed to encourage everyone to look up and consider our place in the universe. Website coming soon
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/173273.jpg)

ЦитироватьZOOR пишет:
Дождемся мая - еще не сойдет с орбиты надеюсь  :)  

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 11 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/956232792685203456)

The Humanity Star will only be on orbit for around nine months, so you'll need to be quick to catch a glimpse. Track its location on @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar) website.

ЦитироватьВасилий Ратников пишет:
еще один пруф что человечество достаточно развилось для того что бы слить в унитаз все пафосные рассуждения о том что космос это для избранных, деды все уже сделали в 6х годы, что надо иметь огромный роскосмос с десятками тысячами офисных сидельцев которые будут бумажки перекладывать, что запуски надо охранять автоматчиками от нападения конной лавы татаромонгол и тд и тп.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:

ЦитироватьRocket Lab ‏Подлинная учетная запись @ RocketLab 11 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/956232792685203456)

The Humanity Star will only be on orbit for around nine months , so you'll need to be quick to catch a glimpse. Track its location on @ TheHumanityStar website.

Где-то до сентября-октября...

ЦитироватьObj. 43168 HUMANITY STAR decay prediction: March 29, 2018 ± 7d

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976209402821824512)

Here's the plot I made of Humanity Star's rapid orbital decay
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174601.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185826.jpg) Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) 5 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/976301607838105603)

One of the first images from Dove Pioneer, the @planetlabs (https://twitter.com/planetlabs) satellite we launched on #StillTesting (https://twitter.com/hashtag/StillTesting?src=hash) in January this year. This beautiful shot was taken over San Eduardo de Chapadmalal, Argentina.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174607.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976642761637154816)

The @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) Humanity Star satellite latest orbit data(9 hr ago) is 217 x 234 km. It's down 22 km since 24 hours earlier. @SpaceTrackOrg (https://twitter.com/SpaceTrackOrg) predicts reentry between 5 and 15 hours from now

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976661062874488838)

New orbit data for Hu Star, epoch 4 hours ago: 205 x 225 km and new reentry prediction: 1130 to 1730 UTC, 8 to 14 hours from now. Center of window trending later.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 44 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976710941386690560)

Humanity Star latest orbital data, epoch 2 hours ago: orbit 198 x 207 km, down 22 km in last 12 hours. No update to reentry window, still 1130 to 1730 UTC (5 to 11 hours from now). Currently heading S over S Atlantic towards Antarctic

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976817687920771072)

Humanity Star latest orbit data (3 hours ago): 169 x 190 km (above geoid). New reentry estimate from Space-Track is 1246 to 1344 UTC; it is now 1347 UTC so HS has probably reentered by now

2 ч.2 часа назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976818298494087168)

During that window HS passed over the Indian Ocean, central Asia, the Arctic and Alaska

2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976819412668960769)

The Asian part of the track passed over Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazkhstan, Tyumen, Yenisei Gulf. We may get a more accurate reentry time later, but wanted to point out even after reentry the location can be very uncertain

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 16 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/976866301409972225)

Space-Track has issued the decay notice - Humanity Star has reentered. No revision to the entry window, was sometime in the 1246-1344 UTC range, somewhere on the white-colored track in Marco's map.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg)Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/976810451660148736)

The @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar) could be reentering about now, over southern Asia: (see also previous two tweets)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174443.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab's Humanity Star Re-Enters after Brief Tenure in Orbit
March 22, 2018 (http://spaceflight101.com/humanity-star-re-entry/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153491.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/re-entry/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DUUoG9ZXkAExSSk.jpg)
Rocket Lab's Humanity Star – Photo: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab's "Humanity Star" ended a short-lived stint in orbit as a shooting star on Thursday, re-entering Earth's atmosphere just two months after being placed into orbit as a public awareness project by the U.S./New Zealand launch services provider. Resembling an oversized disco-ball, the small, passive satellite was to provide "a bright symbol and reminder to all on Earth about our fragile place in the universe."

Спойлер

The Humanity Star was lifted into orbit by Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle on January 21 on its second test flight, dubbed "Still Testing." (http://spaceflight101.com/still-testing-rocket-labs-electron-reaches-orbit-on-second-test-flight/) A similar satellite had been on the rocket's inaugural mission in May 2017, but failed to reach orbit when Electron's flight was terminated due to a misconfigured piece of telemetry equipment on the ground.

Rocket Lab kept quiet about the existence of the Humanity Star and only revealed its presence in orbit days after the successful Still Testing mission, along with news that the launch had carried a previously unannounced kick stage the company plans to employ on future operational missions for additional maneuverability in orbit.

The Humanity Star itself only weighed 10.34 Kilograms and was around one meter in diameter, featuring 76 highly reflective panels on the outside of the geodesic sphere to direct sunlight back to observers on Earth – creating a strobe effect resulting from the satellite's spinning motion. Rocket Lab's motivation behind launching the satellite was to place an easily visible object into orbit to "create a shared experience for everyone on the planet" and "encourage everyone to look up, ponder humanity's place in the universe and think about how we can work together as one species to solve the challenges facing us all."

Because of its reflective hull, the Humanity Star was easily visible to the naked eye with an apparent brightness around magnitude 4.5 to 7, peaking at a maximum brightness at 1.6 during flashes to match the brightness of the stars around it. A number of observers shared photos and videos of Humanity Star on Social Media, showing the satellite as a fairly dim object between the very brief flashes caused by its reflective surfaces.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186318.jpg)Humanity Star‏ @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar) 12 февр. (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar/status/963169527600050176)

The Humanity Star, as spotted by Kieran Fanning on 28 Jan 2018 from Banks Peninsula, NZ, looking over Kaitorete Spit. Have you seen it yet? Track it at http://www.thehumanitystar.com  (https://t.co/nCN9vQ9vAv) Share your pics and video of passes with us. You'll need to be quick - passes only last a few seconds!
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/173343.jpg)

Some discussion emerged after the satellite's launch among the astronomical community since reflective objects can interfere with astronomical observations by ground- and space-based observatories. Claims of "vandalism in the skies," "space garbage," "pollution of the last great wilderness," were made by one side of the light pollution debate while others argued that flares by Humanity Star would be few and far in between compared to those of existing satellites including craft with large deployables or reflective areas like the first Iridium generation. Compared to Iridium that operated a spread-out constellation of 66 satellites, Humanity Star was only a single source making infrequent visible passes over any given observation location and its orbital life was limited from the start.

Humanity Star began its journey in an orbit of 290 by 520 Kilometers, inclined 82.9 degrees, and was expected to have a brief lifetime due to its low orbit and relatively high area-to-mass ratio, making it susceptible to drag experienced in the outer layers of Earth's atmosphere. Rocket Lab had initially estimated the satellite could remain in orbit for around nine months, but its life turned out to be much shorter.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154184.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Peter-Beck_Humanity-Star.jpg)
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck with Humanity Star – Photo: Rocket Lab

Given its light construction out of one-millimeter thick carbon-fiber composite material, Humanity Star did not pose a threat and was expected to fully burn up on re-entry.

The satellite made its final dive after circling the Earth 951 times, re-entering the atmosphere on March 22nd at 13:15 UTC +/-29 minutes, according to the Joint Space Operations Center that tracks all sizeable objects in orbit and pin-points re-entry events. The large uncertainty in the entry time corresponds to a long stretch of the satellite's ground-track from Antarctica, across the Indian Ocean, over South and Central Asia and the Arctic Sea, all the way to Alaska and the northern Pacific.

Rocket Lab said on its website that the company has no plans for launching another Humanity Star: "The Humanity Star is designed to be a one-time, short-term experience. The intention was always to draw more people to the night sky, perhaps those who may not otherwise be looking."

Re-Entry Data

NORAD ID: 43168
Object: Humanity Star
Type: Public Awareness / Space Art
Mass: 10.34kg
Origin: NZ
Inclination: 82.9°

Launch: January 21, 2018 – 01:43 UTC
Launch Vehicle: Electron (Still Testing)
Launch Site: Mahia LC-1, New Zealand

Re-Entry Prediction: March 22, 2018 – 13:15 UTC +/- 29 Minutes
Re-Entry Zone: Unknown

Re-Entry Orbit

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153486.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/re-entry/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/43168entry.jpg)
Image: Spaceflight101/Orbitron

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg)Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981538723841150977)

(1/5) Remember @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar), and how its builders @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) claimed it would be visible for 9 months? While in reality it lasted a mere 60 days on orbit, before reentering on March 22? We all have wondered about that discrepancy...

4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981538725359505408)

(2/5) Did @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) model it at all? Where did they pull their 9 months from?

4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981538726563196928)

(3/5) Out of curiosity (*) I modelled the expected @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar) orbital lifetime myself today, to see if the resulting expected orbital lifetime was near 60 days or 9 months. (* and to validate my orbital lifetime estimates for an upcoming launch)

4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981538728014467073)

(4/5) The #modelling (https://twitter.com/hashtag/modelling?src=hash) was done in GMAT with the MSISE90 model atmosphere, a low solar activity regime and known @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar) specs for mass and size. My modelling had a TLE from 4 days after launch as the starting point.

4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981538729503358977)

(5/5) My result was a modelled orbital lifetime for @TheHumanityStar (https://twitter.com/TheHumanityStar) of 51 days (i.e. my result was 85% of the real orbital lifetime of 60 days). So if @RocketLab (https://twitter.com/RocketLab) had modelled it, they really should have known better than to claim 9 months. Weirdly sloppy.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174663.jpg)

4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981547507934253057)

(6/6) Added note: there are somewhat different figures for mass and size floating around too: 10 kg and 1 meter (although 3 feet = 0.91 meter). Modelling with those too now.

4 апр. (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/981548541603704832)

(7/7) Okay: those figures (1 meter diameter, 10.34 kg mass) give an orbital lifespan of 53 days, 2 days more than the previous model run.