Rocket Lab Announces New Reusable Rocket and Plans to Go Public
%2Favatars%2F6UKotck4r9pz.jpg&w=96&q=75)
%2Fimg%2Fiea%2FnWOVWN9bGo%2Felectron-neutron-1.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
It is not a slow news day for fans of Rocket Lab, the company that plans to retrieve reusable thrusters using helicopters and parachutes.
Today, March 1, the California-based space company announced it has agreed to go public via a merger with a blank-check firm backed by private equity firm Vector Capital, a Reuters report explains.
Shortly after that announcement was made, Rocket Lab also released a press statement unveiling plans for a new reusable rocket more than double the height of its Electron spacecraft at 131 feet (40 meters) tall.
The new launch vehicle, called Neutron, is designed to carry 8 metric tons (approximately 18,000 lb) to orbit. Compared with Rocket Lab's current Electron rocket's ability to carry 660 lb that's quite a boost in load capacity.
Rocket Lab says Neutron will have a fully reusable first-stage that will launch from an ocean landing platform, in a similar fashion to SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster.
"Initially designed for satellite payloads, Neutron will also be capable of International Space Station (ISS) resupply and human spaceflight missions," the Rocket Lab press release reads, outlining Rocket Lab's sky-high (and beyond) ambitions.
First Neutron launch expected in 2024
The company says Neutron will help it meet increased demand from customers to launch large multi-satellite constellations — with its heavier lift, the rocket will be able to get entire constellations in orbit quicker.
The Neutron rocket will launch from Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at NASA Wallops Flight Facility.
"By leveraging the existing launch pad and integration infrastructure at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Rocket Lab eliminates the need to build a new pad, accelerating the timeline to first launch, expected in 2024," Rocket Lab says.
Rocket Lab also explains that it intends to build a new Neutron production facility somewhere in the U.S. to scale up production of its new rocket.
Introducing Neutron – our new 8-ton class reusable rocket tailored for mega constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight. Learn more: https://t.co/dews8XwdAM pic.twitter.com/R9NqltSHTF
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 1, 2021
Founded in New Zealand by Peter Beck in 2006, Rocket Lab still launches a portion of its missions from New Zealand although its HQ is now located in LA. Following the company's SPAC merger, Rocket Lab will have a pro forma enterprise value of $4.1 billion.
Rocket Lab has performed for the U.S. government, including national security payloads. Another firm, Relativity Space, also recently announced a second larger, and 3D-printed rocket, the Terran R.
The list of private space ventures continues to grow at a similar pace to the number of satellite constellations lighting up the night sky.
SHOW COMMENT (1)
/2023/09/30/image/jpeg/PoCsIymcwAvQ6sepUEEzWvl5CJ9AlgVQPNCtMaK6.jpg "Llama 2 Long outperforms other AI models in long queries")
/2023/09/12/image/jpeg/E1LfUWjqRrg0bFqBnRzB7XzmfJAd6YPNclMl5I9n.jpg "How AI can revolutionize health on long-duration spaceflights")
/2023/09/30/image/jpeg/Q3IuT3h5XPfnJ2EWbbBl5YSI7PfMBTI5vxeO1bDq.jpg "Perseverance rover tracks a dust devil moving at 12 mph on Mars")
/2023/09/30/image/jpeg/6ziLKRzD2zNfqHccbb84TFx8ngTDtr7obplSh9Ck.jpg "Alfvén waves: unlocking unlimited clean energy for the Earth")
/2023/07/29/image/jpeg/7tlA3v28MfILdeoVd77ZS8anzOgVIc22cYqsIxdt.jpg "How high heat affects EVs and what you can do about it")
/2023/09/30/image/jpeg/TVhkJL65iVgn0Prm58w6RDhGCNHomwpg9mQkYLWj.jpg "DNA tells the story of the first cowboys’ African descent")
/2023/09/21/image/jpeg/KSYsTrNRY77vCRGQzEDgxQo3CmUW36h1aX2tqBPX.jpg "7 of the maddest ship designs ever conceived by engineers")
/2023/07/31/image/jpeg/rassNfpW1ruJqJTMdjJ7fLHEXtdOatgkJNgnGYyX.jpg "Using quantum computing to speed up optimization problems")
/2023/08/31/image/jpeg/RCklqoUliiOZrZ9TKBHqXIlgLKpe8S7RGLk87bzO.jpg "Giorgio Rosa, the engineer who built his own island")
/2023/09/30/image/jpeg/1WhhgnoNffvKnXEpsuiGMBVoGNrbZUH1b6Nz5XHC.jpg "A new wearable sensor can monitor sweat in real time")