Should be noted that while the article calls Rocket Lab a US firm operating in NZ, it's been an NZ firm since its first day, and only went to the US for funding.<p>Exciting news not only because it shows commercial spaceflight is becoming global, but because Rocket Lab has one of the most ambitious launch schedules out there.
>> Eventually, Rocket Lab says it will be lofting payloads up to 150kg (331lbs) into a 500km-high orbits that go from pole to pole.<p>My first reaction was surprise at the launch-site, since I know much trouble has been taken to be near the equator for launches to aid in achieving orbit (for many types of orbit). Does it help to be closer to the pole for polar orbits? I wouldn't have thought it would make a difference, but this is the first time I can remember I've read about a launch so far from the equator.<p>edit: Wow - my mental image of where Orlando and Kazakhstan were relative to the equator is WAY off. Orlando sits at about 29* N, and Kazakhstan is about 40* N at best - further than the site in New Zealand. I guess that's just about as far south as the US and Soviet Union could practically get, respectively. Although I'm still curious about the optimal launch site for polar orbits.
As satellites are getting smaller, this may be a very efficient launch vehicle.<p>Designed for small payload 150 - 220 kg for $4.9 million per launch.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)</a><p>Frequent launches, so you can launch CubeSats as main payload, without waiting for one of the big launch which has some extra space:
<a href="http://spaceflight101.com/2016-space-launch-statistics/" rel="nofollow">http://spaceflight101.com/2016-space-launch-statistics/</a>
More detailed article here: <a href="https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/rocket-labs-electron-inaugural-flight-new-zealand/" rel="nofollow">https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/rocket-labs-electron...</a><p>Note that the rocket failed to reach orbit as intended.
Awesome! Their NZ office is just 10 minutes from my house, I was going to apply for a C++ dev role with them but was warned by the recruiter that everyone was expected to work 12 hours a day, so unfortunately I had to give it a miss as I wasn't comfortable with that.
For Business Week's Hello World series, Ashley Vance did a report on Peter Beck and Rocket Lab. 4 minutes.<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKvZPpdGjiM&feature=youtu.be&list=PLMM0a7ZGnITr1ZgoLXG1CXAZ9JCH-L7an&t=824" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKvZPpdGjiM&feature=youtu.be...</a>
Rocket Lab's website already allows you to book a slot for your satellite. The cheapest deal is a small cubesat on a rideshare option - prices start at $77,000 (£59,280).<p>Wow a satellite in orbit for the price of a car.
What I like about the Electron is it's 9 engine booster. I think the Falcon 9 has shown with modern engine management systems that large number of engines can be as safe, if not more so given redundancies. Building massive boosters should be easier as well, given you don't have to scale up individual engines as large. I still don't know why the SLS didn't dump the solid rockets and go with a 9 engine configuration and reusability instead of the 4 engine disposable design.<p>The biggest problem with Electron is that it's disposable. Rocket Labs isn't NASA, and the Electron isn't the SLS, getting funded regardless of cost. Electron is launching in a competitive market.<p>Falcon 9 launch cadence will increase and it's already much cheaper per pound. Some customers can't piggyback on Falcon because they need a custom or polar orbit, so they'll choose Electron even at a higher cost. But there other competitors are coming in the small payload space, they all have seen that reusability can work, and some have to be building reusable designs.<p>Rocket Lab looks like it could be out in front for serving these small payloads. But to stay there I'm betting they'll need a re-usable Electron, and fairly soon.
direct from Rocket Lab.
<a href="https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/rocket-lab-successfully-makes-it-to-space-2/" rel="nofollow">https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/rocket-lab-successfully-...</a>