наноспутники – Electron – Mahia – 21.01.2018, 01:43 UTC

[tnt22]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/07/rocket-lab-pushes-back-second-electron-launch-by-one-day/

Rocket Lab pushes back second Electron launch by one day
December 7, 2017 Stephen Clark


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.


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.


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]

[Брабонт]

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).

[tnt22]

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 1 ч назад

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).

[tnt22]

Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow 6 мин. назад

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/ ...

[tnt22]

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 1 мин. назад

Conditions are looking good for a #StillTesting 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.

[tnt22]

12/11/2017 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.

[tnt22]

12/11/2017 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).

[tnt22]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/10/launch-timeline-for-the-electron-rockets-second-test-flight/

Launch timeline for the Electron rocket's second test flight
December 10, 2017 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


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


The Electron rocket experiences the most intense aerodynamic pressures at this phase of flight.

T+0:02:30: MECO


The nine first stage Rutherford main engines shut down after a two-and-a-half minute burn.

T+0:02:34: First Stage Separation


The Electron's first stage separates from its second stage.

T+0:02:36: Second Stage Ignition


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


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


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


Two CubeSats from Spire and one CubeSat from Planet will begin their separation sequence once the second stage achieves orbit and shuts down.

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[tnt22]

О трансляции пуска

Rocket Lab - Still Testing - Livestream

Rocket Lab

Запланировано на 11 дек. 2017 г.

youtube.com/watch?v=hx52QKgF_HM

Начало примерно в 05:00 ДМВ

[tnt22]

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 18 мин назад

#StillTesting 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.

[tnt22]

  :!:  

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 5 мин назад

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.

[tnt22]

12/11/2017 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.

[tnt22]

Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust 15 мин назад

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.

[tnt22]

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 31 мин. назад

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

[tnt22]

[IMG] Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 31 мин. назад

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

[tnt22]

На 2017-12-12 изменён адрес трансляции пуска

youtube.com/watch?v=F_oAGlhFezo

[tnt22]

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 48 мин48 минут назад

Currently targeting no earlier than 16:00 NZDT (3:00 UTC) for #StillTesting launch attempt. Weather looking good, but we're continuing to monitor. Webcast can be viewed at https://youtu.be/F_oAGlhFezo . Live coverage will begin approx. 15 minutes prior to launch attempt.

[tnt22]

Rocket Lab‏Подлинная учетная запись @RocketLab 20 мин назад

LOx fill underway. #Electron #StillTesting

[tnt22]

12/12/2017 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.

[Cnapmak]