NZ Space Activity

[Nighthawk.NZ]

Rocket Lab announcing new Neutron Rocket and it's something out of the comics. They also talk about how they are manufacturing it. Quite an impressive process. Definitely looking to the future.

Neutron Rocket | Development Update - YouTube

Was surprised they are going with Carbon Composites.

The other thing I was surprised at was RLSV "Return to the Launch Site Vehicle" and not to a barge downrange.

The 8t was impressive enough for the size of the vehicle. However, 15t max weight (not reusing the 1st stage and fully expendable) is nearly twice the weight she can launch and maxing out the engines. At 8t they be hardly working. Which when you are re-using a rocket over and over that is what you want.

The Archimedes Engine (cool name BTW) and hopefully becomes as reliable as the Rutherford Engines.

 

[Kiwigov]

Very interesting is the rapid spread of (reliable) reentry and re-landing software (SpaceX, then Blue Origin, now Rocketlab) and the fact this is limited to US companies...

 

[Gibbo]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Just hope some high-value $$$ still gets thrown around within NZ

 

[Nighthawk.NZ]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Just hope some high-value $$$ still gets thrown around within NZ

Same number of staff that it always has been... just that Rocketlab had acquired various assests and tech companies in the the US. The latest is a solar tech company "SolAero" ... No one is moving off shore... while not lying the title of the article is misguiding you in to thinking they are moving off shore... but no one is moving...

 

[ngatimozart]

Last night NZ time Rocket Lab successfully launched the NASA CAPSTONE CubeSat to the Moon. CAPSTONE is the first stage of NASA's return to the moon and is: "A microwave oven–sized CubeSat weighing just 55 pounds will serve as the first spacecraft to test a unique, elliptical lunar orbit as part of the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE). As a pathfinder for Gateway, a Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASA’s Artemis program, CAPSTONE will help reduce risk for future spacecraft by validating innovative navigation technologies and verifying the dynamics of this halo-shaped orbit." This makes NZ the eighth country to have gone to the moon.

Meanwhile our cousins across the ditch have made their first steps into space with a successful NASA launch from the Top End. Good on them. They have an advantage of equatorial launch locations from remote areas. It is a historic event for them and I hope many more follow.

 

[ngatimozart]

Dan Aerospace have successfully flown their rocket powered space plane, undertaking several flight tests. The tests were carried out at Glentanner Airfield near Aoraki Mt Cook, which is on the western edge of Lake Pukaki in the South Island.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Nighthawk.NZ]

Dan Aerospace have successfully flown their rocket powered space plane, undertaking several flight tests. The tests were carried out at Glentanner Airfield near Aoraki Mt Cook, which is on the western edge of Lake Pukaki in the South Island.
View attachment 50409

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

some footage of the flight

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The 40th launch of Rocket Lab's Electon rocket is planned for early today, Sunday 29 July 2023. Liftoff of the small-satellite launcher is scheduled for 0500 UTC (5 p.m. New Zealand time/1 a.m. EDT) from Rocket Lab’s Pad B on Launch Complex 1 at Mahia, New Zealand.


Maybe a dumb question, but why is Te Māhia chosen for a launch facility, and not more to the north?

Rocket Lab Electron aborts launch in final seconds – Spaceflight Now

 

[Aluminium Hail]

The 40th launch of Rocket Lab's Electon rocket is planned for early today, Sunday 29 July 2023. Liftoff of the small-satellite launcher is scheduled for 0500 UTC (5 p.m. New Zealand time/1 a.m. EDT) from Rocket Lab’s Pad B on Launch Complex 1 at Mahia, New Zealand.


Maybe a dumb question, but why is Te Māhia chosen for a launch facility, and not more to the north?

Rocket Lab Electron aborts launch in final seconds – Spaceflight Now

One of the more useful orbits for earth observation satellites is a sun synchronous orbit. This is a near polar orbit so being closer to the equator is actually a disadvantage in that use case. To make this orbit they launch south from Mahia and slightly retrograde (westward) therefore having the site on a peninsular with a free view southwest (and also east to north for the "normal" orbits) is advantageous.

 

[ngatimozart]

One of the more useful orbits for earth observation satellites is a sun synchronous orbit. This is a near polar orbit so being closer to the equator is actually a disadvantage in that use case. To make this orbit they launch south from Mahia and slightly retrograde (westward) therefore having the site on a peninsular with a free view southwest (and also east to north for the "normal" orbits) is advantageous.

Also further north would have it conflicting with aircraft movements into, out of, and around Auckland International Airport.

 

[Aluminium Hail]

Just to add to the above RocketLab released a video of the recovery of their last flight. From about 30sec to 1min you get a clear view of the east coast of the North Island from Wellington back to Mahia. It shows how little distance off the coast they actually travel for a sun synchronous orbit.

 

[ngatimozart]

Rocket Lab had an Electron had an Electron flight failure earlier this week. Not sure what the problem was.