РН Electron от новозеландской Rocket Lab

Автор Тангаж, 05.03.2015 17:53:41

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zandr

https://twitter.com/RocketLab
ЦитироватьRocket Lab @RocketLab 1 ч
Вы не можете просматривать это вложение.
Spot Pad B there in the background? The launch mount is installed and we've just got the strongback to go now. One Electron on the pad is nice, but two will be

zandr

https://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/news/78308/
ЦитироватьГерманский спутник запущен с космодрома в Новой Зеландии
20 января 2021 г. в 07:26 UTC (10:26 ДМВ) с площадки LC-1А космодрома Махиа в Новой Зеландии стартовыми командами компании Rocket Lab осуществлен пуск РН Electron (18). Запуск успешный.
В рамках миссии, получившей наименование 'Another One Leaves the Crust' ("Очередной покидает поверхность"), на околоземную орбиту выведен небольшой экспериментальный телекоммуникационный спутник в интересах германской компании OHB Group. Предполагается, что космический аппарат будет использоваться для апробирования определенных частот для будущего использования на спутниках.
А.Ж.

zandr

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-demonstrates-new-orbital-maneuvering-capability-with-most-complex-kick-stage-mission-yet/
ЦитироватьRocket Lab Demonstrates New Orbital Maneuvering Capability with Most Complex Kick Stage Mission
Launched just six months after contract signing, Rocket Lab's 'Another One Leaves The Crust' mission demonstrated the longest on-orbit burn to date for the Kick Stage's Curie engine
Long Beach, California. 26 January 2021 – Rocket Lab, the global leader in dedicated small satellite launch, demonstrated the increased maneuvering capability of the Kick Stage during the company's 18th Electron launch, successfully burning the Curie engine for more than twice the standard mission duration and delivering more than 1,700 km of perigee change.

On January 20, 2021, Rocket Lab successfully launched a communications satellite for European space technology company, OHB Group, deploying the 50 kg class GMS-T satellite to a 1,200 km circular orbit - around 700 km higher than most Electron missions to date. It's an orbit increasingly in demand for a growing number of constellations, but the unique altitude isn't a common target orbit for most rideshare missions, leaving satellites facing a long delay to find a ride going to their preferred orbit. Electron eliminates the wait time by delivering a dedicated service to orbit on a timeline that meets our customers' diverse needs.

After separating from Electron's second stage into an elliptical transfer orbit, the Kick Stage's 3D printed Curie engine performed two separate burns; one to raise OHB Group's satellite to a 1,200 km circular orbit, and a second burn to lower the Kick Stage's perigee after payload deployment, speeding up the de-orbit process to avoid the Kick Stage becoming long-term orbital debris. Across the two maneuvers, Curie completed more than 267 seconds of total burn time and delivered 1,722 km of perigee change, ascending 982 km and descending 740 km. The complex maneuvers saw Curie burn for more than twice the standard Kick Stage mission profile to low Earth orbit. The extended burn time was made possible thanks to the adaptable design of the Kick Stage which enabled engineers to double the standard number of propellant tanks from four to eight, delivering more on-orbit performance.

"Increasingly we're seeing small satellite operators seeking unique orbits and complex mission profiles on tight timelines," said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO. "The Kick Stage delivers an unmatched level of on-orbit maneuverability for our customers, enabling them to get exactly where they need to, and get the most functionality from their spacecraft, all on a tight timeline."

'Another One Leaves the Crust' was launched just six months after the launch contract was signed with OHB Group, shaving more than two years off common wait times small satellites can experience to get on orbit. Beyond providing the launch service, Rocket Lab also built the reaction wheels and star tracker used in OHB's payload inside the six-month window too.
Спойлер
"By being fully vertically integrated, our team is in control of critical supply chain areas and can quickly scale manufacturing pace to meet customer demand, delivering a vehicle for launch in as little as 30 days," said Mr. Beck. "As the second most frequently launched U.S. last year, our team has proven they can deliver an integration and launch campaign with unmatched speed and efficiency for the small satellite industry. In this instance the mission delivery time was just six months, but our team, manufacturing facilities, and launch infrastructure are capable of supporting even tighter timelines measured in short weeks."
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zandr

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Then and now. LC-1 looks a little different these days! This month we're installing the strongback on LC-1 Pad B, enabling rapid back-to-back launch from two pads within the same complex. It means launch on demand for small sats, with more than 120 launch opportunities every year
Готовят вторую площадку!

zandr

Rocket Lab's Next Mission to Launch 100th Satellite and Deploy Next-Generation Photon Spacecraft in Preparation for Moon Mission
The mission will deploy a range of satellites for commercial and government customers, as well as place a next-generation Photon spacecraft in orbit to build heritage for Rocket Lab's upcoming mission to the Moon for NASA
Rocket Lab, a leading launch provider and space systems company, has today announced its next mission will deploy a range of satellites for commercial and government satellite operators, and place a next-generation Photon spacecraft in orbit to build spacecraft heritage ahead of Rocket Lab's mission to the Moon for NASA in Q3 this year.
Scheduled to lift-off from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Māhia Peninsula in mid-March, the 'They Go Up So Fast' mission will be Rocket Lab's 19th Electron launch overall and second mission of 2021. The launch will bring the total number of satellites launched by Electron to 104.

Seven satellites feature on the mission manifest, including:
An Earth-observation satellite for BlackSky via launch services provider Spaceflight Inc.;
Two Internet-Of-Things (IoT) nanosatellites for companies Fleet Space and Myriota, procured by Tyvak;
A technology demonstration satellite for the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra Space;
a weather satellite pathfinder technology demonstration from Care Weather technologies;
A technology demonstrator for the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) through launch integration and program management services provider, TriSept;
and Rocket Lab's in-house designed and built Photon Pathstone spacecraft which will operate on orbit as a risk reduction demonstration to build spacecraft heritage ahead of Rocket Lab's mission to the Moon for NASA later this year.
The six customer payloads will be integrated onto Photon, which will initially act as a Kick Stage space tug to circularize and deploy the satellites to precise orbits. After deploying the first five satellites to a 550 km circular orbit, Photon's Curie engine will reignite to lower its attitude and deploy the final satellite to a 450 km orbit. The Curie engine's unique ability to perform multiple relights on orbit enables Rocket Lab to deploy satellites to different orbits on the same launch. This level of payload deployment flexibility is typically reserved for dedicated missions but is a standard capability on all Electron missions.

Following payload deployment, Photon Pathstone will remain in orbit to build flight heritage across the spacecraft's subsystems ahead of the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA in Q3 this year, as well as Rocket Lab's private mission to Venus in 2023. Photon Pathstone will demonstrate power management, thermal control, and attitude control subsystems, as well as newly-integrated technologies including deep-space radio capability, an upgraded RCS (reaction control system) for precision pointing in space, and sun sensors and star trackers. Pathstone is the second Photon spacecraft to be deployed to orbit, following the launch of Photon First Light in August 2020.
Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO, says deploying customer satellites and then continuing with an independent Photon mission is a unique capability that enables multiple missions on the same launch.
"We're delighted to be delivering tailored access to orbit for our customers once again, many of whom have previously launched on Electron. With Photon, and likewise with the Kick Stage, we're able to give our customers an unmatched level of control over their orbital insertion, even when flying as a rideshare," he said. "What's truly unique to Electron is the ability to deploy a range of customer satellites, then continue with a separate Photon mission. It means making multiple, distinct missions capable within the same launch, reducing the time, cost, and complexity of innovating on orbit. It's nothing short of a complete transformation in the way we go to space."

MISSION MANIFEST
Спойлер
Payload: Photon
Organization: Rocket Lab

The Photon onboard this mission is the latest configuration of Rocket Lab's in-house satellite platform built for operations in low Earth orbit, deep space, and on interplanetary missions. This mission follows the successful launch and deployment of Rocket Lab's first Photon satellite fewer than six months ago on the I Can't Believe It's Not Optical mission in August 2020.

Payload: BlackSky Global Series
Organization: BlackSky, procured by Spaceflight Inc.

BlackSky will include a single Earth observation microsatellite.  This is the seventh launch of a Gen-2 spacecraft to date. Spaceflight arranged the launch and is providing mission management and integration services for BlackSky.

Payload: Centauri 3
Organization: Fleet Space, procured by Tyvak

Centauri 3 is a newly-designed 6U NanoSat that will join Fleet Space's planned constellation of 140 Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) satellites in low Earth orbit. Designed for use in the energy, utilities, and resource industries, the Centauri 3 will also test new hardware and space systems developed by Fleet Space that will support the 2023 Seven Sisters mission, a resource exploration mission by an Australian team of space, remote operations, and resource exploration companies that will launch nanosatellites and sensors to develop new resource exploration techniques for Earth, the Moon, and Mars, in support of NASA's Artemis Program.

Payload: Myriota 7
Organization: Myriota, procured by Tyvak

Myriota is the global leader in low-cost, secure satellite connectivity for the Internet of Things. Myriota 7 is the latest addition to its satellite constellation, and forms part of a crucial next step for the business, as it moves towards near-real time connectivity. It will support Myriota's customers by further improving its existing service, which provides access to data from anywhere on Earth. Myriota's long battery life and direct-to-orbit connectivity supports products from technology partners servicing a wide range of industries including utilities, transport and logistics, supply chain, agriculture, mining and defence.

Payload: Veery Hatchling
Organization: Care Weather Technologies

The Veery Hatchling mission will test Care Weather's vertically-integrated satellite power, computing, and avionics systems in a 1U CubeSat. It paves the way for Care Weather's future constellation of scatterometric radar weather satellites capable of producing hourly maps of global wind speed and direction over the surface of the ocean. Veery Hatchling is the first step in Care Weather's mission to save lives and livelihoods by better forecasting Earth's extreme weather.

Payload: M2
Organization: The University of New South Wales's Canberra Space

This spacecraft from the University of New South Wales Canberra Space, in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force, will bring together emerging technologies that deliver advanced capabilities in earth observation, maritime surveillance, quantum computing, advanced AI, and laser communications. M2 follows on from the successful M2 Pathfinder mission deployed in June 2020 on Rocket Lab's 12th mission, 'Don't Stop Me Now'.

Payload: Gunsmoke-J
Organization: U.S. Army's SMDC, procured by TriSept
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TriSept procured the rideshare slot on Electron for the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC). Gunsmoke-J is an experimental 3U CubeSat that will test technologies that support development of new capabilities for the U.S Army. "TriSept is thrilled to be providing the rideshare slot, dispenser hardware, regulatory compliance in both the U.S. and New Zealand, and spacecraft integration for this important technology demonstration in space. We look forward to the integration of this small but game-changing payload aboard Rocket Lab's Electron," said TriSept CEO, Rob Spicer.

zandr

https://www.ga.com/general-atomics-partners-with-rocket-lab-to-launch-argos-4-advanced-data-collection-system
ЦитироватьGeneral Atomics Partners with Rocket Lab to Launch Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection System
SAN DIEGO, 24 FEB 2021 - General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that it has signed a contract with Rocket Lab to launch the GA-EMS developed Orbital Test Bed (OTB) satellite carrying the Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection System (A-DCS) hosted payload. The contract was awarded to GA-EMS by the United States Space Force's (USSF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) under a USSF Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) delivery order, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The anticipated launch will occur between late 2021 and early 2022 using Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle.
"We are excited to work with Rocket Lab to launch the Argos-4 satellite," stated Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. "GA-EMS is continuing to expand our presence in space. This contract demonstrates our commitment to quickly and reliably launch new payload technologies to space and meet our customer's schedule requirements."
The Argos-4 A-DCS mission is supported by the NOAA Cooperative Data and Rescue Services Program. Argos is an international program that collects data from thousands of sensors and transmitters located around the world. Currently, data is collected and distributed for use in numerous applications, including ocean buoy tracking, wildlife and fishery monitoring, and maritime security, as well as non-environmental uses.
"We're proud to be teaming up with the GA-EMS team and providing a streamlined path to orbit for Argos-4," said Peter Beck, founder and chief executive officer of Rocket Lab. "It's a privilege to be able to provide tailored, reliable access to space for a program that makes such a significant contribution to monitoring and protecting our oceans and wildlife."
"Rocket Lab has demonstrated success in reliably deploying small satellites to their targeted destination in low-earth orbit," stated Nick Bucci, vice president of Missile Defense and Space Systems at GA-EMS. "The flexible, modular OTB platform used for Argos-4 continues to demonstrate its versatility both in terms of payload integration and launch vehicle integration and compliance, enabling a cost-efficient solution to meet a wide variety of requirements. We look forward to incorporating our satellite with Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle and putting the important Argos-4 A-DCS technology on orbit so it can perform its mission."

About General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems
Спойлер
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group is a global leader in the research, design, and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' history of research, development, and technology innovation has led to an expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions supporting aviation, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and processing and monitoring applications for critical defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. For further information, visit www.ga.com/ems
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Водитель

Rocket Lab nears merger deal with a SPAC to go public: WSJ

Rocket Lab USA is nearing a deal to go public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company Vector Acquisition that would value the small-satellite launch firm at $4.1 billion, including debt, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The deal could be finalized on Monday, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Vector Acquisition is backed by technology-focused private-equity company Vector Capital and raised $300 million in an initial public offering in September.


Vector Acquisition and Rocket Lab did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

Rocket Lab's backers have included defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp. The startup has already launched 97 satellites for the government and private companies for applications that include research and communications, the WSJ said.

Rocket Lab's deal with Vector is expected to include additional funds of about $470 million in the form of a so-called private investment in public equity from investors including BlackRock Inc and Neuberger Berman Group LLC, the newspaper said.

Rocket Lab is expected to use proceeds from the deal to fund development of a medium-lift Neutron launch vehicle tailored for satellite mega-constellations, space missions and commercial spaceflight, the report added.
The Neutron rocket is expected to be able to lift most satellites forecast to launch in the coming years and be positioned as a lower-cost alternative to larger vehicles, according to the report.



https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rocket-lab-ipo/rocket-lab-nears-merger-deal-with-a-spac-to-go-public-wsj-idUSKCN2AT0VV


Следующая в линейке Бека РН тяжелого/сверхтяжёлого класса будет называться Proton?  ::)

zandr

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-inks-deal-to-launch-five-missions-for-blacksky-constellation/
ЦитироватьRocket Lab Inks Deal to Launch Five Missions for BlackSky Constellation
Long Beach, California. 25 March 2021 – Rocket Lab, a global leader in launch and space systems, has today announced it will launch multiple missions to low Earth orbit for BlackSky, a leading provider of real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services.
The multi-launch agreement with launch services provider Spaceflight Inc., who will manage the integration and launch services for BlackSky, includes the launch of nine BlackSky satellites across five Electron missions this year. The deal represents the largest number of satellites BlackSky has committed to a single launch provider to date and includes the successful launch of BlackSky's latest spacecraft on Rocket Lab's "They Go Up So Fast" rideshare mission earlier this week. 
Eight of BlackSky's 130 kg class satellites will be launched across four dedicated missions on Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle throughout 2021 in a demonstration of rapidly-acquired  launch services. This responsive launch capability supports the aggressive scaling of BlackSky's satellite constellation to meet the demand for real-time global monitoring and analysis services for public and private organizations. These satellites will join three existing BlackSky satellites launched by Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle across 2019 and on the most recent mission this week. The agreement also includes options for an additional two dedicated missions on Electron in Q4 2021. 
Спойлер
Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says Electron's dedicated launch service provides the reliability and speed to space that is critical for companies like BlackSky building out their satellite constellations and growing their businesses.
"We're thrilled to be providing dedicated and reliable access to orbit for Spaceflight and its customer BlackSky. Electron puts our customers in control of their launch schedule and orbital deployment parameters, giving them more certainty in crucial business growth phases," said Mr. Beck. "By securing streamlined space access on Electron, BlackSky can focus on what matters most to their mission – providing real-time, actionable data to decision makers on the ground when they need it most."
Brian E. O'Toole, CEO of BlackSky, said: "Rocket Lab simplifies the path to orbit. Dedicated launch on Electron is the key enabler for us to rapidly develop our constellation on our own terms which is hugely important in unlocking more analytic and data-driven opportunities for our customers."

The BlackSky satellites join a busy launch manifest for Rocket Lab in 2021 which includes a scheduled dedicated mission for the U.S. Space Force, a mission to the Moon for NASA, and launches for a range of commercial customers. Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle is the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually since 2019, having deployed more than 100 satellites to space for commercial and government customers across 17 orbital missions. Electron has become a workhorse launch vehicle for the small satellite industry and provides uniquely targeted access to orbit for constellation satellites.   

The launch agreement follows on from a March 1 announcement that Rocket Lab USA, Inc. ("Rocket Lab") and Vector Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: VACQ) ("Vector"), a special purpose acquisition company backed by leading technology investor Vector Capital, have entered into a definitive merger agreement that will result in Rocket Lab becoming a publicly traded company. The transaction is estimated to be completed in Q2 2021 and, at that time, Vector will change its name to Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and the combined company is expected to trade under the Nasdaq ticker symbol RKLB.
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Игорь Годунов

А как у них дела с ловлей  ступени вертолётом?
Давно что-то ничего не слышал... :-*

zandr

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
While one Electron was on the pad at LC-1 for launch last week, the next one was arriving on site. A new Electron rolls off the production line every 26 days, which calls for parallel launch campaigns!
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Цитата: Игорь  Годунов от 26.03.2021 04:02:43А как у них дела с ловлей  ступени вертолётом?
Давно что-то ничего не слышал... :-*

Им сейчас нужна модифицированная ТПЗ на дно. Скорее всего из-за этого задержка.

zandr

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1377744811101327361
Цитировать  Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
Rutherford engines preparing for flight. Our next mission will see us reach 200 of these 3D printed, electric-pump-fed engines launched to space
Вы не можете просматривать это вложение.

zandr

Цитировать  Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
Our next mission, launching in May, is another major step toward making Electron the first orbital-class reusable small launch vehicle.
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zandr

Цитировать  Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
All we have to do is orient Electron to a precise angle, slow it down from 8x the speed of sound as it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, withstand 2,400°C temperatures, deploy a parachute, locate and fish the rocket out of the ocean and bring it back to our factory. Easy.

zandr

Цитировать  Rocket Lab  @RocketLab
It's time to bring another rocket back from space.
https://bit.ly/39WkvbH
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zandr

#715
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-to-recover-electron-booster-on-next-mission/
ЦитироватьRocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission
Bringing a Rocket Back from Space: Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission
Rocket Lab will attempt to bring an intact rocket back from space in another major step toward making Electron the first reusable orbital small launch vehicle
Long Beach, California. April 8th 2021 – Rocket Lab, the leading launch and space systems company, today announced that on its next mission the company will attempt to bring a rocket back from space, slowing the Electron launch vehicle down from speeds of >Mach 8 as it re-enter's Earth's atmosphere before splashing the rocket down in the ocean. The complex mission is the next major step toward making Electron the first orbital-class reusable small launch vehicle, enabling rapid-turnaround launches for small satellites.

Scheduled for launch in May 2021 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the 'Running Out of Toes', mission will be Rocket Lab's 20th Electron launch overall and the second of three planned ocean splashdown recovery missions. The mission will see Electron deploy two Earth-observation satellites for BlackSky's global monitoring constellation. While Electron's second stage delivers the satellites to orbit, Electron's first stage will undertake a series of complex maneuvers designed to enable the stage to survive the extreme heat and forces of atmospheric re-entry on the way back to Earth.
As the rocket reaches speeds of around eight times the speed of sound on its descent, the air around Electron heats up to 2,400 °C generating an extremely hot plasma that creates a red-orange glow around the re-entering stage. Because Electron will enter the atmosphere engines first, the nine 3D printed Rutherford engines on the first stage will bear the brunt of this extreme heating. To withstand the immense temperatures, this Electron features an evolved heat shield designed to protect the engines and direct the force of the plasma away from the rocket. After entering the atmosphere, Electron will deploy a drogue parachute to help begin the process of slowing the rocket down and stabilizing its descent. Once Electron is at subsonic speeds, a circular parachute is deployed to help further slow the rocket in preparation for a gentle ocean splashdown. A Rocket Lab vessel will then rendezvous with the stage in the splashdown zone, approximately 650 km from Launch Complex 1, and retrieve it for transport back to Rocket Lab's Production Complex for inspection.

'Running Out of Toes' follows on from Rocket Lab's first recovery mission, 'Return to Sender', which launched in November 2020 and saw the company successfully deploy the parachute system and recover a stage from an ocean splashdown for the first time. In doing so, Rocket Lab became only the second company to successfully recover an orbital class booster from space. The 'Running Out of Toes' mission is designed to validate the findings from the first recovery mission and to test updated systems including the new advanced heat shield.

"Reusability is hard for any launch vehicle, but it's a particularly complex challenge for small rockets. The Return to Sender mission proved we could successfully bring Electron back from space. Now it's about validating re-entry data a second time and starting to introduce the advanced systems that will enable us to launch, catch and repeat," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. "Electron is already the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket. Reusability will enable us to further increase launch cadence giving our customers on-demand access to space."

Following the successful completion of the ocean splashdown tests this year, Rocket Lab intends to move into the final phase of the recovery program - mid-air recovery. Using this approach, Electron stages will be captured mid-air by a helicopter.
Neutron
While Electron is designed for mid-air capture, Rocket Lab's newest launch vehicle, the 8,000 kg class Neutron rocket under development, is designed for propulsive landing. This process will see Neutron's engines reignite during the re-entry phase to slow the stage's descent before landing legs are deployed to enable a vertical landing on an ocean platform. Information about Neutron can be found here: www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-unveils-plans-for-new-8-ton-class-reusable-rocket-for-mega-constellation-deployment
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ZOOR

Цитата: zandr от 08.04.2021 23:13:41https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-to-recover-electron-booster-on-next-mission/
Цитата: undefinedRocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission
Bringing a Rocket Back from Space: Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission
Rocket Lab will attempt to bring an intact rocket back from space in another major step toward making Electron the first reusable orbital small launch vehicle

Я правильно понял, что они пытаются без тормозного импульса ступень вернуть?
Я зуб даю за то что в первом пуске Ангары с Восточного полетит ГВМ Пингвина. © Старый
Если болит сердце за народные деньги - можно пойти в депутаты. © Neru - Старому

zandr

https://vk.com/spacex?w=wall-41152133_323681
ЦитироватьКомпания Rocket Lab готова возвратить 1-ю ступень ракеты Electron в своей следующей миссии
Запуск 20-й миссии компании - "Running Out of Toes" запланирован на май. В своей основной миссии Electron развернёт два спутника наблюдения Земли для группировки BlackSky. Но нас интересует вторичная миссия ракеты, во время которой компания снова предпримет попытку возврата 1-й ступени.
После отстыковки 2-й ступени, 1-я совершит коррекцию своего положения для правильного входа в плотные слои атмосферы и начнёт процесс входа. После плазменной фазы, она развернёт тормозной парашют, а достигнув дозвуковых скоростей, развернётся основной парашют, чтобы ещё больше замедлить движение ступени и осуществить мягкое приводнение в океан. Затем корабль Rocket Lab отыщет ступень в зоне приводнения, в ~650 км от стартового комплекса, выловит её и транспортирует обратно на производственный комплекс Rocket Lab для осмотра.
Напомним, что в ноябре 2020 года компания впервые успешно возвратила ступень и приводнила её в океане. Новая миссия предназначена для проверки результатов первой миссии, тестирования обновлённых систем, включая новый усовершенствованный тепловой экран.
"Повторное использование очень сложный процесс для любой ракеты-носителя, но это особенно сложная задача для небольших ракет. Первая миссия доказала, что мы можем успешно вернуть ступень из космоса. Теперь речь идёт о проверке данных повторного входа и начале внедрения передовых систем, которые позволят нам запускать, ловить и снова запускать ускорители", - сказал исполнительный директор Rocket Lab Питер Бек.
Это будет вторая из трёх запланированных тестовых миссий по возвращению ускорителя. Перед третьей миссией будет сделано ещё одно крупное обновление. Большинство нововведений затрагивают теплозащиту ускорителя. Цель Rocket Lab - проводить минимально возможный ремонт ускорителей. Компания уже повторно использует детали от первого возвращённого ускорителя Electron.

После успешного завершения испытаний на приводнение в этом году Rocket Lab намерены перейти к спасению ступени с помощью вертолёта.

Rocket Lab:
— Наша следующая миссия в мае - это ещё один важный шаг на пути к превращению Electron в первую малую многоразовую ракету-носитель орбитального класса.
Нам надо всего лишь сориентировать Electron под точным углом, замедлить его со скорости, примерно в восемь раз превышающей скорость звука, затем он должен выдержать температуру в 2400 °C, и развернуть парашют. После этого нам надо найти и выловить ускоритель из океана и вернуть его на наш завод. Всё просто!

algol5720

Цитата: ZOOR от 09.04.2021 20:18:22Я правильно понял, что они пытаются без тормозного импульса ступень вернуть?
Да и одну уже вернули.

zandr

https://vk.com/spacex?w=wall-41152133_338722
ЦитироватьОфициальное заявление компании Rocket Lab
"После успешного старта, работы первой ступени Electron и разделения ступеней, компания испытала аномалию во время своей 20-й миссии Running Out Of Toes.
Проблема возникла после включения двигателя второй ступени во время полёта, что привело к потере миссии. Вторая ступень ракеты-носителя осталась в пределах прогнозируемого коридора запуска и не причинила никакого вреда населению, командам или месту запуска. Первая ступень Electron благополучно приводнилась на парашюте, спасательная команда Rocket Lab работает над тем, чтобы поднять ступень из океана, как и планировалось.
Rocket Lab тесно сотрудничает с Федеральным управлением гражданской авиации (FAA), чтобы исследовать аномалию и определить её первопричину, чтобы исправить проблему для будущих миссий.
"Мы глубоко сожалеем о потере полезной нагрузки нашего клиента BlackSky. Мы понимаем колоссальные усилия, которые прилагаются к созданию каждого космического аппарата, и чувствуем их потерю и разочарование. Наша команда прилагает все усилия, чтобы выявить проблему, исправить её и как можно скорее вернуться к работе. В один из самых тяжелых дней наша профессиональная команда уже работает над устранением аномалии. Нашим главным приоритетом остаётся безопасное и надёжное возвращение наших клиентов к полётам. Мы извлечём уроки из этого и снова вернёмся к работе", — сказал Питер Бек, основатель и исполнительный директор Rocket Lab.
Сегодняшняя аномалия произошла после 17 успешных орбитальных запусков ракеты-носителя Electron. Поскольку в настоящее время производятся сразу несколько ракет, Rocket Lab готова к быстрому возвращению к полётам, как только будет завершено расследование и приняты все необходимые меры".