Rocket Lab launches 2 satellites to orbit, attempts Electron booster recovery
[ad_1]
Rocket Lab successfully launched two satellites into orbit and aimed to recover the mission’s booster, taking another step in its quest to build a partially reusable launch vehicle.
The company’s two-stage Electron rocket topped with two commercial Earth-observation satellites lifted off from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand site, on the North Island’s Mahia Peninsula, Wednesday (Nov. 17) at 8:38 p.m. EST (0138 GMT and 2:38 p.m. New Zealand time on Nov. 18).
The Electron’s first stage was scheduled to splash down softly under parachute about 18 minutes later in the Pacific Ocean a few hundred miles off the New Zealand coast, where a Rocket Lab recovery boat was waiting to fish it out of the sea and a helicopter flew overhead to spot it from the air.
Related: Rocket Lab and its Electron booster (photos)
“Splash down of the stage confirmed,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck wrote on Twitter after the launch. “Helicopter has eyes on it.”
The Electron’s upper stage, meanwhile, continued powering its way to orbit, successfully deploying two satellites for the company BlackSky 55 minutes after liftoff at an altitude of 270 miles (430 kilometers).
“Perfect flight by the team,” Beck wrote.
Wednesday night’s mission, dubbed “Love At First Insight,” was the 22nd for Electron overall and its fifth of the year so far. All Electron launches to date have used brand-new rockets, but Rocket Lab aims to change that.
The California-based company has mapped out a plan to pluck falling Electron first stages out of the sky with a helicopter, inspect and refurbish the boosters, then return them to the launch pad for additional flights. Such reuse would cut costs for Rocket Lab and its customers and allow the company to significantly boost its launch rate, Rocket Lab representatives have said.
Rocket Lab has already demonstrated rocket-return tech and gathered data about how well its boosters survive the harsh conditions of reentry: “Love At First Insight” marked its third booster-recovery attempt, after successful efforts in November 2020 and May 2021.
But the “Love At First Insight” recovery attempt added a new wrinkle to the mix. Rocket Lab stationed a helicopter in the recovery zone “to track and visually observe a descending stage in preparation for future aerial capture attempts,” company representatives wrote in a mission press kit.
“The helicopter will not attempt a mid-air capture for this mission but will test communications and tracking to refine the concept of operations (CONOPS) for future Electron aerial capture,” they added.
The two spacecraft lofted on “Love At First Insight” are the eighth and ninth high-resolution, multispectral “Gen-2” satellites for BlackSky’s planned constellation.
“BlackSky combines high-resolution images captured by its constellation of microsatellites with its proprietary artificial intelligence software to deliver analytics and insights to industries including transportation, infrastructure, land use, defense, supply chain management and humanitarian aid,” Rocket Lab wrote in the press kit.
Rocket Lab will loft four more BlackSky satellites across two additional Electron launches to come, under the terms of a multi-launch deal signed earlier this year.
An Electron attempted to launch two BlackSky craft in May, but the rocket suffered a serious anomaly in its upper stage engine igniter system and both satellites were lost. Rocket Lab did manage to bring the Electron’s first stage down for a soft splashdown on that mission, which was called “Running Out Of Toes” (because it was the 20th Electron launch to date).
Mike Wall is the author of “Out There” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
[ad_2]
Original Post
That is very interesting, You’re an overly skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look ahead to in quest of extra of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
This design is steller! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
As a Newbie, I am permanently browsing online for articles that can benefit me. Thank you
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
I like this blog very much, Its a real nice post to read and incur info . “Education is the best provision for old age.” by Aristotle.
I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not forget this website and give it a look on a constant basis.
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thank you
Aw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and in no way appear to get one thing done.
Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
I just like the valuable info you provide on your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test again right here frequently. I’m relatively sure I’ll be told a lot of new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the following!
I think this internet site contains some rattling excellent information for everyone :D. “Heat cannot be separated from fire, or beauty from The Eternal.” by Alighieri Dante.
Magnificent website. Plenty of useful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks on your effort!
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem together with your site in web explorer, might check this… IE still is the market leader and a good component to folks will miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “Love is made in heaven and consummated on earth.” by John Lyly.