Posted on 07/04/2020 9:53:15 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The Electron rocket lifted off from the company’s Launch Complex 1 at Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, at 5:19 p.m. Eastern. The launch was originally scheduled for July 3 but pushed back two days because of poor weather in the forecast, only for the company to move up the launch to July 4 based on a reassessment of the weather.
The initial phases of the launch appeared to go as planned, although the vehicle’s passage through “max-q,” or maximum dynamic pressure, appeared to be rougher than what was seen in previous launches. Onboard video taken shortly before first-stage separation showed material appearing to peel from the rocket, although it was not clear if it simply a decal applied to the rocket or something more substantial.
The onboard video from the rocket froze about five minutes and 45 seconds after liftoff, or three minutes into the seconds stage burn. At six and a half minutes after liftoff, a launch controller on the company’s webcast of the launch said, “Initiating mishap response plan.”
Telemetry from the rocket, displayed on the webcast, showed the rocket’s altitude falling from about 194 kilometers to less than 165 kilometers for about 90 seconds before that information was removed from the screen. The company ended the webcast 11 minutes after liftoff, two minutes after the rocket’s second stage should have shut down and the kick stage, carrying its payload of seven satellites, deployed.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacenews.com ...
“The seventh satellite on the Electron was Faraday-1...included payloads for several customers such Airbus Defence and Space, which flew a payload called Prometheus 1 to test a reprogrammable software-defined radio.”
This is quite a bold, ambitious venture. Everything about it from design to production utilizes leading edge technology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)
So sad. SpaceX reusable vehicles launch and recovery is beginning to make rocket launches look almost routine.
The problem with that is, people and companies are beginning to take the risks involved with rocket launch a bit lightly.
So may companies are so very threatened by SpaceX they may be rushing things. Overlooking things. Perhaps taking a few shortcuts.
The cost of space launches is large. Especially so for single-use systems. In order to compete with the price, something must give.
No single-use launch company can compete on an equal playing field with a multi reusable launch system without cutting some corners.
Every company engaging in space launches are very concerned about their future with their very very expensive single-use programs. SpaceX threatens them all with their multi-use launch systems.
>> although it was not clear if it simply a decal
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I was thinking Crane Cams.
+1
Rocket Lab - Pics Or It Didn’t Happen Launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZcZoDFYjXc
Not sad for Rocket Lab.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) costs to launch a military payload are $400 million.
SpaceX’s launch costs for commercial missions are $62 million.
Rocket Lab’s price for delivering up to 150 kg to a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit is about $6 million per launch. Their goal is to reduce the manufacturing cycle on their largely 3D printed, robot-machined Electron rocket to seven days. They have a factory large enough to produce more than 50 rockets per year.
Rocket Lab has also announced plans to study the potential recovery of the Electron booster for reuse, using a parachute and mid-air retrieval. The booster of the tenth flight survived its guided re-entry and splashed down into the ocean. A full recovery attempt is planned for 2020.
The New Zealand launch facility is at 39-S longitude.
It is my understanding that the most efficient location to launch a west-to-east orbital satellite is from the equator.
For polar orbits, is there any gain or loss of launch efficiency by moving closer - or further away - from the poles?
Holley Carburetors. Maybe Edelbrock manifolds.
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