Rocket Lab (updates)

[DocM]

https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-ready-to-attempt-midair-recovery-of-electron-booster/

 

Quote

 

Rocket Lab ready to attempt midair recovery of Electron booster

 

WASHINGTON — Rocket Lab says it’s ready to move to the next step in its efforts to recover and reuse Electron first stages by attempting to catch a booster in midair on an upcoming launch.

 

Rocket Lab announced Nov. 23 that, after three launches where Electron boosters splashed down in the ocean and were recovered, it is now ready to take the next step and use a helicopter to catch a booster descending under parachute, a measure that would allow the company to reuse that booster on a later launch.

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[DocM]

Rocket Lab Neutron update event

 

 

 

Looks kinda familiar: SPECTRE's Bird One from 'You Only Live Twice'

 

 

Edited December 2, 2021 by DocM

[flyingskippy]

I think design is really interesting and definitely makes improvements into the F9 recovery requirements. 

 

The shot at SpaceX with the Stainless steel/aluminum demonstration seems a bit much. There will definitely be some hurdles to overcome with composite and the thermodynamics involved.

 

Scott Manley did an analysis of the design here:

 

[DocM]

Rocket lab has signed on to the DoD Rocket Cargo program. They proposed Electron (flying), Neutron (reusable, in dev), and their Photon tug/satellite bus (flying).

 

Rocket Cargo would deliver both humanitarian relief and US military supplies much faster than conventional Transportation Command assets.

 

Proposals are being made to  deliver cargoes from a small pallet to a SpaceX Starship with 100+ tonnes of cargo anywhere on Eartb in <1 hour.

 

https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-signs-on-to-u-s-militarys-rocket-cargo-program/

 

Edited September 7, 2022 by DocM

[DocM]

Rocket Lab looking at a crew  capsule? Most likely for their upcoming Neutron launcher, which is 7m wide.