NZ Space Launch Capability

[ngatimozart]

NZ has become the 11th nation to enter the space race with todays launch of the Rocket Lab Electron Rocket. This rocket is a low cost option with launch cost reputed to be around $5 million per launch. The rocket itself is highly advanced using latest advances in technology and manufacture. It is aimed at the microsatellite market.
Rocket Lab: We have lift-off! History made as Electron launches successfully from Mahia

A Defence One article:
The Rocket Startup That's About to Eat Elon Musk's Lunch - Defense One

 

[MrConservative]

Sheep in Space Program

The first sheep in space is the main objective of course. State secret. The satellite thing is all a rouse.

One small step for Lamb, one giant leap for Lambkind.

 

[ngatimozart]

The first sheep in space is the main objective of course. State secret. The satellite thing is all a rouse.

One small step for Lamb, one giant leap for Lambkind.

You realise that it will be a sheep from Dipton as well

 

[vonnoobie]

Good on them. Wouldn't rule out some R&D exchange between Rocketlab and SpaceX down the track. They both appear to have some useful tech to be used with one another while not directly competing with one another (SpaceX moved out of the small rocket market in it's early days).

 

[John Newman]

NZ has become the 11th nation to enter the space race with todays launch of the Rocket Lab Electron Rocket. This rocket is a low cost option with launch cost reputed to be around $5 million per launch. The rocket itself is highly advanced using latest advances in technology and manufacture. It is aimed at the microsatellite market.
Rocket Lab: We have lift-off! History made as Electron launches successfully from Mahia

A Defence One article:
The Rocket Startup That's About to Eat Elon Musk's Lunch - Defense One

Ngati, bit of a worry with the Kiwi's having a 'ballistic' missile capability, what happens if you lot go rouge (eg, North Korea) and start pointing them across the ditch at us here in Oz!!

 

[John Newman]

The first sheep in space is the main objective of course. State secret. The satellite thing is all a rouse.

One small step for Lamb, one giant leap for Lambkind.

Very good! Ha ha!

And of course my favourite Kiwi/sheep joke (apart from the X rated ones):

"Why don't Kiwi's take their wives and girlfriends to the footy? Because they usually end up hopping the fence and start nibbling on the grass!" Bah.....

Hi John. We have the same jokes over here but with a different nationality. Example: What is the definition of virgin wool in OZ? The sheep that can run the fastest.

 

[ngatimozart]

Ngati, bit of a worry with the Kiwi's having a 'ballistic' missile capability, what happens if you lot go rouge (eg, North Korea) and start pointing them across the ditch at us here in Oz!!

John, we have a plan so cunning you can pin a tail on it and call it a weasel. We are going to arm the Tasmanians.

 

[CJR]

Ngati, bit of a worry with the Kiwi's having a 'ballistic' missile capability, what happens if you lot go rouge (eg, North Korea) and start pointing them across the ditch at us here in Oz!!

[Insert the Gruen Transfer 100% There For The Taking video]

Though, putting that aside... Well...
UQ is a world leader in hypersonics and scramjet design. In conjunction with Heliaq Advanced Engineering and a few other various odds and ends they even have the preliminary sketch design for a full on orbital launch vehicle, who knows if it'll actually go anywhere...

Grollo Aerospace has a supersonic target drone they could (with quite a bit of effort) upscale into a cruise missile.

Teakle Composites up in Queensland has designed a built solid-fuel rocket motors.

DST, of cause.

The Australian Space Research institute -bunch of bored academics, their junior minions (aka Honours and Masters students) and various enthusiastic amateurs- have the AUSROC III and Nano cubesat launcher designs solidly on the drawing board. Give 'em more than a beer money budget...

Gilmour Space Technologies (part Australian, part Singaporean) is working on 3D printable solid rocket fuel.

ANTSO, just to make sure anything we lob at 'em makes a worthwhile bang

All in all, looks like we'd be able to develop something worthwhile to strike back with. But perhaps I'm overthinking it...
:hehe

 

[ngatimozart]

Aviation Week report on launch. Gives a bit more detail.

Rocket Lab 'Well Ahead' After Initial Launch Test | Space content from Aviation Week

 

[MrConservative]

[Insert the Gruen Transfer 100% There For The Taking video]

The Australian Space Research institute -bunch of bored academics, their junior minions (aka Honours and Masters students) and various enthusiastic amateurs- have the AUSROC III and Nano cubesat launcher designs solidly on the drawing board. Give 'em more than a beer money budget...

:hehe

My experience with engineering students is that if you give them any increase in budget they will still spend it all on beer.

Lets keep our space tech for peaceful purposes. We launch the first sheep and you guys can do the first wombat or dingo.

Or we could as a first step to manned spaceflight launch Russell Crowe into space as a joint venture as he kind of claims both countries as his own.

As a second step we could get some engineering students a budget to work out how to get him back.

 

[vonnoobie]

As a second step we could get some engineering students a budget to work out how to get him back.

Tell them he is shouting the grog, Will have him back by the arvo.

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On a serious note Australia does have a huge capability in the space market with all the knowledge and industry to go seriously at it but no government support beyond minor investments. Wouldn't mind a joint AU/NZ space agency to advance both of our capabilities (peacefully).

 

[MrConservative]

Tell them he is shouting the grog, Will have him back by the arvo.

-----------

On a serious note Australia does have a huge capability in the space market with all the knowledge and industry to go seriously at it but no government support beyond minor investments. Wouldn't mind a joint AU/NZ space agency to advance both of our capabilities (peacefully).

I would not be against it theory but the investment would substantially have to come from the private sector. Govts can play their part in smoothing the way forward but tapping the public purse for the $$ involved means less money elsewhere.

As for Russell in orbit .... Do we really want him back?

 

[CJR]

On a serious note Australia does have a huge capability in the space market with all the knowledge and industry to go seriously at it but no government support beyond minor investments. Wouldn't mind a joint AU/NZ space agency to advance both of our capabilities (peacefully).

Aus has a unique distinction of being the only developed nation, besides Iceland, without a space agency... Even the blasted Kiwis have beaten us to it.

I would not be against it theory but the investment would substantially have to come from the private sector. Govts can play their part in smoothing the way forward but tapping the public purse for the $$ involved means less money elsewhere.

Thing is a coherent space agency isn't actually that expensive (outside the big 'uns at least)... The Canuks' spend about C$500 Million per year; the Poms' spend 300 million pounds per year; Japan spends about US$2 Billion; Brazil spends about US$100 million (that's with fairly extensive satellite operations and some stop-start launch vehicle development).

In the scheme of government budgets $100 million between Aus and NZ is a rounding error.

As for Russell in orbit .... Do we really want him back?

Yeah, wouldn't want to leave him in Earth orbit. Wouldn't want him to damage a satellite. Better offer the engineers some beer to design something to shoot him into the sun instead.

 

[Bluey 006]

Wouldn't mind a joint AU/NZ space agency to advance both of our capabilities (peacefully).

This idea has been suggested in the past. Its a good idea.

The CSIRO has significant involvement in NASA programs, the volunteer Australian Space Research Institute (ASRI) also exists as well as a number of programs in academia. The fact Australia in 2017 doesn't have a dedicated stand alone space agency is almost embarrassing really.

Now that NZ has developed its own space agency the benefits of an ANZ collaboration seem like a no brainer. Good on the Kiwi's for entering the final frontier.

 

[Bluey 006]

One more reason for Australia to boost its indigenous space capabilities.

Legislation for 'Space Corps' Military Branch Introduced By House Armed Services Committee

A local civilian agency would undoubtable help the Department of Defence (DOD) boost the resiliency of its space assets and overall capability in space by providing access to the agility, diversity, and innovation of a local commercial space sector.

If an adversary attacked US satellite networks and space infrastructure, it could cripple the communications and surveillance systems that the Australian military depends on. In this case, the capability to build, launch and operate space systems independently would be a worthwhile investment indeed. Although, we can always outsource it to the kiwis

 

[MrConservative]

One more reason for Australia to boost its indigenous space capabilities.

If an adversary attacked US satellite networks and space infrastructure, it could cripple the communications and surveillance systems that the Australian military depends on. In this case, the capability to build, launch and operate space systems independently would be a worthwhile investment indeed. Although, we can always outsource it to the kiwis

It may have to wait Bluey. Best if the OZ went on its own on that one. The Kiwi space program is more interested in peaceful purposes that serve its agritech base at this stage according to Shawn Ovis who is outstanding in his field. I am still very keen on launching Russell Crowe into space instead, though he would make an excellent warhead for a retaliatory strike on North Korea. That would put the fear of god up em.

 

[CJR]

So, those sheep-bothering weirdos have actually got something into space...

The first rocket successfully launched from New Zealand is now tucked into orbit hundreds of kilometres above Earth.

The unmanned Electron rocket, named 'Still Testing', took off from Māhia Peninsula at 2.45pm on Sunday.

Cheers and clapping erupted throughout Rocket Lab's Auckland mission control as it successfully reached orbit about 2.53pm.

On one hand, congrats you damned Kiwis!

On the other hand, me and my fellow tasweigens probably should be worried about the impending bombardment of fireblight-infested apples...

 

[vonnoobie]

So, those sheep-bothering weirdos have actually got something into space...

On one hand, congrats you damned Kiwis!

On the other hand, me and my fellow tasweigens probably should be worried about the impending bombardment of fireblight-infested apples...

Not to fear, We are giving Tasmania to NZ.. Have fun

 

[ngatimozart]

Not to fear, We are giving Tasmania to NZ.. Have fun

Nope we don't want it

 

[ASSAIL]

Nope we don't want it

Well take back Rex Patrick instead, you spawned him!