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CompositesWorld.com 29
Composite Launcher for SmallSats
Read this article online | short.compositesworld.com/Electron
Read more online about transport into low Earth orbit in
"The emerging commercial space industry" |
short.compositesworld.com/CommSpace
Read more about small satellite release from the ISS in
"The emerging commercial space industry: Habitats and CubeSats" |
short.compositesworld.com/CommSP-HC
Read more about the Moon Express attempt to win the Google XPRIZE in
"Google Shoots the Moon" | short.compositesworld.com/GLXP2
Rocket Lab is looking for experienced carbon composite technicians as
it continues to rapidly scale its team. Interested parties should view the
firm's employment Web page | rocketlabusa.com/careers/positions/
print rocket engines, and are able to produce a rocket engine in a
matter of days," Beck says. "3D printing also enabled us to rapidly
iterate during our research and development phase and create an
engine that would have been impossible to produce using tradi-
tional manufacturing techniques."
Although no composite parts are 3D-printed, the Rutherford
engines are powered by oxygen/kerosene fuel, and Rocket Lab
revealed that it has developed carbon fiber composite tanks that
are compatible with the liquid oxygen component.
Donna Dawson is CW's (previously) retired senior
writer emeritus, now residing and writing in Lindsay,
CA, US, in the foothills of the Sierras.
donna@compositesworld.com
Near perfect first launch
e first Electron test launch, appropriately named It's a Test,
lifted off May 25, 2017, from the Mahia Peninsula launch site.
Although Electron reached space, it was unable to fulfill its goal of
entering orbit. Beck nevertheless considers it a "hugely successful
first test launch [with a] great first stage burn, stage separation,
second stage ignition and fairing separation — all of the key, and
generally most challenging, events. "We're committed to making
space accessible and the test was a phenomenal milestone in
that journey." at was confirmed in August when Rocket Lab
completed an internal review that "found the launch had to be
terminated due to an independent contractor's ground equip-
ment issue, rather than an issue with the rocket. Rocket Lab's
investigative board has identified the root causes and corrective
actions." At CW presstime, another launch vehicle was expected
to be ready for launch in mid-October, and after that, Rocket Lab
would launch when ready.
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