Rocket Lab to attempt first stage recovery on next launch
Posted: Sat, Nov 7, 2020, 7:37 AM ET (1237 GMT)
Rocket Lab will attempt to recover the first stage of its Electron rocket during its next launch. The company announced Thursday that it will conduct an all-up test of the recovery system on the first stage after testing elements of it, such as its ability to survive reentry. If successful, the stage will splash down about 400 kilometers from the launch site, where boats will retrieve it and bring it back for engineers to examine its condition. Rocket Lab announced last year its intent to reuse the first stage as a means of increasing its flight rate without having to scale up rocket production facilities. That launch is scheduled for no earlier than Nov. 15.
Rocket Lab will attempt to recover the first stage of its Electron rocket during its next launch. The company announced Thursday that it will conduct an all-up test of the recovery system on the first stage after testing elements of it, such as its ability to survive reentry. If successful, the stage will splash down about 400 kilometers from the launch site, where boats will retrieve it and bring it back for engineers to examine its condition. Rocket Lab announced last year its intent to reuse the first stage as a means of increasing its flight rate without having to scale up rocket production facilities. That launch is scheduled for no earlier than Nov. 15.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, February 2
First launch of Ariane 6 with four boosters
ESA — 6:37 am ET (1137 GMT) Europe’s digital Earth gets ready to grow user community
ESA — 6:37 am ET (1137 GMT) Inside the high-stakes battle over Space Force advocacy
Washington Times — 6:34 am ET (1134 GMT) SpaceX rocket launch planned Monday morning at Vandenberg Space Force Base
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 6:32 am ET (1132 GMT) SpaceX Plans Data Center Satellite Constellation
Aviation Week — 6:30 am ET (1130 GMT) |
