CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/891910
NEWS CompositesWorld.com 27 Composite Launcher for SmallSats In October 2015, the National Aeronautics and Space Admin. (NASA, Washington, DC, US) awarded Rocket Lab a Venture Class Launch Services contract, valued at US$6.95 million, for demon- stration CubeSat launches to LEO on an Electron rocket. Provided with additional funding from Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, MD, US) and other sources, Rocket Lab was recently valued at more than US$1 billion. Notably, Rocket Lab advertises dedicated (single-customer) launches at ~US$5 million — compared to a reported US$62 million for SpaceX's Falcon 9 — and promises either a dedi- cated delivery "when and where required" or a rideshare service. Although ULA's Vulcan new-generation launch vehicle is projected to lift up to 20 MT to LEO in payload fairings 5.4m diameter and up to 26.5 m length, the 17m high, 1.2m diameter Electron is designed to lift a nominal payload of 150 kg (maximum 225 kg) to a 500-km sun-synchronous LEO. (In a sun-synchro- nous orbit, the satellite passes over the same part of the Earth at roughly the same local time each day.) e difference in size, power requirements and payload capacity, and the relative simplicity of Electron — its launch components are not reusable, so it does not need the high sophistication required of a system that must return to earth, refuel, and relaunch multiple times — make it an appealing bargain for small satellite launches. Customers signed up to ride Electron so far include NASA, Planet Labs (Planet, San Francisco, CA, US); Spire (San Francisco, CA, US); and Moon Express (Cape Canaveral, FL, US), which has contracted for three launches of its MX-1 spacecraft to the Moon, including its Google Lunar XPRIZE shot (see Learn More). Payloads can be integrated at the launch site, following standard practice, or customers can choose to pack their satellites into a Plug-in Payload module in their own facilities, and then send the packed module back to Rocket Lab for integration with the Electron vehicle. Rapid, frequent deployment Rocket Lab's mission focuses on rapid deployment of small payloads and plans to achieve its mission through several stra- tegic actions: First, its private launch facilities are located in a remote, underpopulated area of New Zealand. is removes launch activity from sites in crowded, more densely populated locales (e.g., Houston and Florida), thus allowing more frequent launches. "e remote location of the site, particularly its low volume of air and marine traffic, is a key factor in enabling Rocket Lab's Electron could help relieve the backlog of grounded SmallSats awaiting entry into LEO. FIG. 2 Electron's first stage Rocket Lab's composites team manager Ben Malcolm stands near the first stage of an Electron launch vehicle. Visible are its nine 3D-printed Rutherford engines. FIG. 3 Assembly in Auckland Workers at the Rocket Lab plant in Auckland, New Zealand, assemble an Electron launch system.