Rocketlab Trip to Moon Orbit

The New Zealand based affordable space exploration company, Rocketlab has successfully launched a NASA mission to test the moon orbit for a planned space station.

 

Rocket Lab Going Reusable

In another development from the innovative people at Rocket Lab, they're going to recover the first stage of their Electron rocket soon after launch. I note their plan to eventually catch the rocket stage by using a helicopter. Read about it here:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12256289

Check out the Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck's presentation

Rocket Lab Launches Another Satellite

Looks like Rocket Lab is now fully functional, propelling New Zealand into the space age.

https://spacewatch.global/2019/04/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-darpas-r3d2-satellite-from-new-zealand/

To just see the actual lift-off in the embedded video below, skip to 12:20.

Rocket Lab Launch 13 Nasa CubeSats

Rocket Lab has launched another rocket, this time putting 13 Nasa satellites into orbit:

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-nasa-cubesats-to-orbit-on-first-ever-venture-class-launch-services-mission/

We can now safely say that New Zealand has a fully fledged space program.

From Rocket Lab:

"Until now, launch opportunities for small satellites have mostly been limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying only when space is available on large launch vehicles. This mission, awarded under a Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) Agreement, marks the first time NASA CubeSats received a dedicated ride to orbit on a commercial launch vehicle."

Rocket Lab First Commercial Payload

Rocket Lab has launched its first commercial payload into space, with plans to soon make it one launch a week.

https://www.space.com/42411-rocket-lab-launches-first-commercial-mission.html

Space Station Leak

I feel like I have the ability to see into the future. My novel Dana Point has a space craft which springs a leak. It was due to human error or equipment wear. The leak is pretty much the same as being reported on board the space station.

https://www.space.com/41712-space-station-leak-human-error-russia-says.html

This is real science. For those who watch movies and wonder about the realism when they see the action; when the thing in space starts leaking, it doesn't result in catastrophic failure. It is more like a sinking boat than anything else.

Rocket Lab Launch Satellite

New Zealand has entered the business of space by launching a satellite from its soil. Quite an achievement and this is a commercial scale undertaking with many more launches planned.

See the launch video here (countdown from 10, 9, 8 starts at 14:48):

Rocket Lab Launch Successful

New Zealand has entered the space race on a shoestring budget. The NZ-USA company has successfully launched its first Electron rocket which is rated to carry a 150 kg payload when it enters service.

http://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-reaches-space-but-not-orbit-on-first-electron-launch/

One thing the rocket failed to do was enter orbit. I put this down to the following problem - reaching an orbit speed. What is required to enter orbit is described here:

https://what-if.xkcd.com/58/

The article says reaching orbital speed takes much more fuel than reaching orbital height. By this reckoning I'm guessing they ran out of fuel before reaching orbital speed. But it's a great start, the engine and critical pump are made in Auckland and the launch pad is located on the Mahia Peninsula south of Gisborne. The location was likely chosen because the site is surrounded by sea on almost all sides and there is very little commercial flight traffic.

Rocket Lab Launch

New Zealand is about to enter the space age with the launch of Rocket Lab's vehicle into orbit:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/92884290/rocket-lab-test-launch-postponed-a-second-time