#rocket lab

Well, we can’t confirm the world domination part, but…

And it seems there will be more space rockets (and robots?) built at that workshop:

From this week, Rocket Lab – who pioneered the use of carbon composites in space by developing the world’s first carbon composite orbital rocket – will lease SailGP Technologies’ 70,000 square foot development and manufacturing complex in Warkworth.

More than 50 SailGP Technologies New Zealand based team members will remain at the facility and join the Rocket Lab team, supporting a growing production rate for the Electron rocket and the rapid development of Neutron, Rocket Lab’s new 13,000 kg payload class rocket. As part of the transition, Rocket Lab will retain the facilities’ advanced manufacturing equipment including an autoclave, ovens, composite material cutting plotters, CNC metal machining equipment, and large-scale CNC composite machining equipment to support accelerated R&D and production.

Founded in 2001 as Core Builders Composites (CBC), the Warkworth facility has in recent years become heavily focussed on building and maintaining the cutting-edge F50 catamarans used in SailGP’s global racing league – one of the world’s fastest growing sport leagues – which accounts for around 80% of its work.

As an aspiring aerospace engineer who:

is worried about climate change & pollution

thinks space tourism is the absolute worst

knows that SpaceX doesn’t rule the entire industry

Allow me to introduce you to my favorite rocket company, Rocket Lab!

Their main rocket currently is the Electron. Named so because it is the first rocket with an electric-pump-fed engine. Almost all of the rocket engine parts are 3D printed. The body of the rocket is also made of a carbon-fiber composite (making it all black and so sexy).

The New Zealand based company launches off the beautiful Mahia Peninsula. In order to reduce waste they have begun to recover boosters by catching them mid-air with helicopters (as opposed to burning more fuel as SpaceX does to land theirs). The kick stage is also designed to de-orbit so that it is not left behind as space debris.

Bonuses:

They have the best mission names

CEO Peter Beck is just the coolest

Juhéj, valami izgalmas, a Rocket Lab új, újrafelhasználható rakétája, elég izgalmas konstrukció, sokban hasonlít, sokban eltér a SpaceX dolgaitól.

Mint, a SpaceX:

Metán hajtóanyag

Első és második fokozat hajtóműve megegyezik

Visszatér a starthelyre

Egyszer használatos második fokozat

Újrafelhasznált orrrész

Ellenben:

Kompozit rakétatest

Fix lábak

Folyamatosan változó átmérő a hőterhelés csökkentésére a leszállásnál

Egyben száll le az egész