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词条 Rocket Lab
释义

  1. History

  2. Launch vehicles

      Ātea    Electron  

  3. Facilities

      Factory    Launch Complex 1    Launch Complex 2  

  4. See also

  5. References

  6. External links

{{short description|U.S. aerospace manufacturer}}{{Infobox company
| name = Rocket Lab
| logo = File:Rocket Lab logo.svg
| logo_size = 300 px
| image =
| type = Private
| founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|2006}}[1]
| founder = Peter Beck[1]
| hq_location_city = Huntington Beach, California
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| key_people = {{plainlist|
  • Peter Beck (CEO, CTO)
  • {{nowrap|Bradley Schneider (EVP/U.S.)}}
  • Shaun O'Donnell (VP/Global Operations)
  • Adam Spice (CFO)

}}
| industry = Launch service provider
| products = Electron rocket
Ātea rocket
Rutherford rocket engine
| revenue =
| revenue_year =
| num_employees = ~200
| num_employees_year = December 2017
| website = {{URL|rocketlabusa.com}}
| footnotes =
}}

Rocket Lab is a private American aerospace manufacturer and smallsat launcher with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary.[2][3][4][5][6] It developed a suborbital sounding rocket named Ātea and currently operates a lightweight orbital rocket known as Electron, which provides dedicated launches for smallsats and CubeSats.

The company was founded in New Zealand in 2006 by Peter Beck and later moved to California in the United States. The Electron test program began in May 2017,[7][8] with commercial flights announced by the company to occur at a price listed in early 2018 as {{US$|5.7 million}}.[9] Launching from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, the rocket's test flights took place on 25 May 2017 and 21 January 2018, [10][11] while its first commercial flight took place on 11 November 2018.[13]

On 16 December 2018, Rocket Lab launched their first mission for NASA's ELaNa program. The company plans to make its first launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia in 2019.[12]

History

Rocket Lab was founded in 2006 by New Zealander Peter Beck, the company's CEO and CTO.[1] Internet entrepreneur and fellow New Zealander Mark Rocket was the seed investor and co-director from 2007 to 2011.[13] In 2009, Rocket Lab claimed it had become the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space[14] with the Ātea-1 sounding rocket. The payload was not recovered. This was not deemed necessary. As an instrumentation dart, the payload was not powered; its trajectory depended only on the boost phase of flight.

In December 2010, Rocket Lab was awarded a U.S. government contract from the Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) to study a low cost space launcher to place CubeSats into orbit.[15][16][17][18] This agreement with NASA enables the company to use NASA resources such as personnel, facilities, and equipment for commercial launch efforts.[19][20]

Funding was obtained from Khosla Ventures in 2013,[21] and Callaghan Innovation and Bessemer Venture Partners in 2014.[22][23] Lockheed Martin became a strategic investor in 2015,[24] and Rocket Lab announced in March 2017 that it had raised an additional {{US$|75 million}} in a Series D equity round led by Data Collective with participation by Promus Ventures and several previous investors.[25] In November 2018, the company reported raising a US$140-million series E round led by Future Fund.[26]

Launch vehicles

Ātea

The first launch of the Ātea (Māori for 'space') suborbital sounding rocket occurred in late 2009.[27] The {{convert|6|m|adj=on}} long rocket weighing 60 kg was designed to carry a 2 kg payload to an altitude of 120 km.[28] It was intended to carry scientific payloads or possibly personal items.[29][30][31]

Ātea-1 was successfully launched from Great Mercury Island near the Coromandel Peninsula on 30 November 2009 at 2:30 pm after fueling problems delayed the scheduled 7:10 am liftoff.[32] The rocket was tracked by GPS uplink to the INMARSAT-B communications satellite, which permitted verification of payload apogee above the Kármán line; it touched down approximately 50 km downrange.{{cn|date=December 2018}}

The payload had no telemetry downlink, but had instrumentation including the launch vehicle's uplink to INMARSAT. Payload was not required to be recovered, being only a dart, and the company advised that should it be encountered by vessels at sea, the payload should not be handled as it was "potentially hazardous" and contained delicate instruments. However, performance characteristics were completely determined by the boost stage, which did have downlink telemetry and was recovered. A second launch of Ātea-1 was not attempted.{{cn|date=December 2018}}

Electron

{{Main|Electron (rocket)}}

Electron is a two-stage launch vehicle which uses Rocket Lab's Rutherford liquid engines on both stages. The vehicle is capable of delivering payloads of 150 kg to a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit,[33] the target range for the growing small satellite market. The projected cost is less than {{USD|5 million}} per launch.[34]

The Rutherford engine uses pumps that are uniquely powered by battery-powered electric motors rather than a gas generator, expander, or preburner.[35] The engine is also fabricated largely by 3D printing, via electron beam melting,[36] whereby layers of metal powder are melted in a high vacuum by an electron beam rather than a laser.

By April 2016, the {{convert|5000|lbf|kN|order=flip|abbr=on}} second-stage Rutherford engine had completed firing tests.[8][37] The first test flight took place on 25 May 2017 at 04:20 UTC from Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand's North Island.[38] After reaching an altitude of about {{convert|224|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}}, the rocket was performing nominally but telemetry was lost so the decision to destroy it was made by range safety.[39][40][41]

On 21 January 2018 at 01:43 UTC, their second rocket on a flight named "Still Testing" launched, reached orbit and deployed three CubeSats for customers Planet Labs and Spire Global.[42] The rocket also carried an additional satellite payload called Humanity Star, a {{convert|3|ft|m|0|sp=us|order=flip|adj=mid|-wide}} carbon fiber geodesic sphere made up of 65 panels that reflect the Sun's light.[43] Humanity Star re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up in March 2018.[44]

On 11 November 2018, the first commercial launch of Electron occurred from Mahia Peninsula carrying satellites for Spire Global, GeoOptics, a CubeSat built by high school students, and a prototype of a dragsail.[45]

On 29 March 2019, the launch of DARPA's R3D2 satellite took place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1. This 150kg space vehicle was built to test a new folding antenna design.[46]

Facilities

Factory

In October 2018, Rocket Lab revealed their new manufacturing facility in Auckland, New Zealand.[47]

Launch Complex 1

{{main article|Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1}}

After encountering difficulty in obtaining resource consent for the Kaitorete Spit launch site,[48] Rocket Lab announced in November 2015 that its primary launch site would be on the Mahia Peninsula, east of Wairoa in the North Island, New Zealand.[49] The site is licensed to launch rockets every 72 hours for 30 years.[50] The Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 was officially opened on 26 September 2016 (UTC; 27 September NZDT).[51]

Launch Complex 2

In order to increase their flight cadence, Rocket Lab searched for multiple launch sites.{{When|date=October 2018}} In October 2018, the company announced their selection of NASA Wallops Flight Facility as their second launch site. The site was chosen for its low number of launches from other companies, along with its ability to supplement orbital inclinations provided by LC-1.[52]

See also

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
  • Firefly Aerospace
  • NewSpace
  • PLD Space
  • Relativity Space
  • Vector Launch
  • Virgin Orbit

References

1. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/rocket-lab-celebrates-rich-ten-year-history/ |title=Rocket Lab Celebrates Rich Ten-Year History |publisher=Rocket Lab |date=2016 |accessdate=22 May 2017}}
2. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/frequently-asked-questions/ |title=FAQ |publisher=Rocket Lab |accessdate=30 March 2019|quote=Where is Rocket Lab based? [-] Rocket Lab is an American company with headquarters in Los Angeles and a wholly-owned New Zealand subsidiary.}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/11/business/rocket-lab-commercial-smallsat-launch/index.html|title=Startup Rocket Lab puts 6 small satellites into orbit|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|website=cnn.com|date=November 11, 2018|accessdate=30 March 2019}}
4. ^{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/10/rocket-lab-gets-second-launch-site-gears-up-for-rapid-flight-cadence/ |title=Rocket Lab Gets Second Launch Site Gears Up for Rapid Flight Cadence |work=Ars Technica |first=Eric |last=Berger |date=17 October 2018 |accessdate=30 March 2019}}
5. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/rocket-lab-electron-rutherford-peter-beck-started-first-place/ |title=Rocket Lab: the Electron, the Rutherford, and why Peter Beck started it in the first place |work=Spaceflight Insider |first=Rae |last=Botsford End |date=2 May 2015 |accessdate=30 March 2019}}
6. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-makes-it-to-space-2/|title=Rocket Lab Electron 'Its a Test' flight successfully makes it to space|date=May 25, 2017|accessdate=30 March 2019|publisher=Rocket Lab}}
7. ^{{cite web |url=https://rocketlabusa.com/latest/rocket-lab-successfully-makes-it-to-space-2/ |title=Rocket Lab successfully makes it to space |publisher=Rocket Lab |date=25 May 2017 |accessdate=25 May 2017}}
8. ^1 {{cite web |url=http://rocketlab.co.nz/latest/rocket-lab-completes-final-major-technical-milestone-before-first-test-launches/ |title=Rocket Lab Completes Major Technical Milestone Ahead of Test Launches |publisher=Rocket Lab |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=13 December 2016}}
9. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.airspacemag.com/as-next/milestone-180968351/ |title=Small Rockets Aim for a Big Market |work=Air & Space Magazine |last=Gugliotta |first=Guy |date=April 2018 |access-date=2 April 2018}}
10. ^{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/25/maiden-flight-of-rocket-labs-small-satellite-launcher-reaches-space/ |title=Maiden flight of Rocket Lab’s small satellite launcher reaches space |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=25 May 2017 |accessdate=25 May 2017}}
11. ^{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/21/rocket-lab-delivers-nanosatellites-to-orbit-on-first-successful-test-launch/ |title=Rocket Lab delivers nanosatellites to orbit on first successful test launch |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=21 January 2018 |accessdate=21 January 2018}}
12. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/42172-rocket-lab-wallops-flight-facility-us-launch-site.html|title=Rocket Lab Picks Virginia Spaceport As US Launch Site for Small Satellites|last=Malik|first=Tariq|date=17 October 2018|website=Space.como|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=18 October 2018}}
13. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.markrocket.com |title=Home |website=Mark Rocket}}
14. ^{{Cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/rocket-lab-electron-rutherford-peter-beck-started-first-place/ |title=Rocket Lab: the Electron, the Rutherford, and why Peter Beck started it in the first place |work=Spaceflight Insider |first=Rae |last=Botsford End |date=2 May 2015 |access-date=25 May 2016}}
15. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/rocket-lab-news.html |title=News |publisher=Rocket Lab |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723113333/http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/rocket-lab-news.html |archivedate=23 July 2011 |quote=December 2010 - Rocket Lab was awarded a US contract from the Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) to study low cost international alternatives. Included in this study is a 640,000Ns booster, a miniature avionics system and a launch vehicle to place small mass satellites into polar and low Earth orbits.}}
16. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/ |title=Rocket Research & Development Based in New Zealand |publisher=Rocket Lab |date= |accessdate=9 October 2012}}
17. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.nzrocketry.org.nz/index.php?page=rocketry-links |title=Rocketry Links |publisher=New Zealand Rocketry Association |date= |accessdate=9 October 2012}}
18. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/2946619/NZ-set-to-join-the-space-age |title=NZ set to join the space age |date=9 October 2009 |agency=NZPA |work=Stuff.co.nz |accessdate=22 November 2011}}
19. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2015/07/31/rocket-lab-signs-nasa-partnership-to-tap-launch-resources/ |title=Rocket Lab Signs NASA Partnership to Tap Launch Resources |work=Via Satellite |first=Caleb |last=Henry |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2018}}
20. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/12/rocket-lab-poised-provide-dedicated-launcher-cubesat-science |title=Rocket Lab poised to provide dedicated launcher for CubeSat science |work=Science |first=Adam |last=Mann |date=6 December 2017 |accessdate=28 January 2018}}
21. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.khoslaventures.com/portfolio/rocket-lab |title=Rocket Lab |publisher=Khosla Ventures |accessdate=14 May 2015}}
22. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/07/30/rocket-lab-funding-sources/ |title=A Look at Rocket Lab Funding Sources |work=Parabolic Arc |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=31 July 2014}}
23. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.bvp.com/portfolio/rocket-lab |title=Rocket Lab |publisher=Bessemer Venture Partners |accessdate=21 March 2017}}
24. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/rocket-man |title=Lockheed Martin invests in Auckland's Rocket Labs |work=The National Business Review |first=Chris |last=Keall |date=3 March 2015 |accessdate=23 November 2018}}
25. ^{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-raises-75-million-to-scale-up-launch-vehicle-production/ |title=Rocket Lab raises $75 million to scale up launch vehicle production |work=SpaceNews |first=Jeff |last=Foust |date=21 March 2017 |accessdate=21 March 2017}}
26. ^{{ cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rocket-lab-reports-150m-fresh-002441921.html |title=Rocket Lab reports $140M in fresh funding, cementing space unicorn status |work=Yahoo! Finance |first=Alan |last=Boyle |date=15 November 2018 |accessdate=16 November 2018}}
27. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3108525/NZs-first-space-rocket-launches/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130223072913/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3108525/NZs-first-space-rocket-launches/ |dead-url=yes |archive-date=23 February 2013 |title=NZ's first space rocket launches |date=30 November 2009 |last=Cooper |first=Tracy |work=Waikato Times |accessdate=8 April 2015}}
28. ^{{cite web |title=Ātea-1 technical specifications |url=http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/atea-1.html |website=Rocket Lab |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223062717/http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/atea-1.html |archivedate=23 February 2010 |deadurl=yes}}
29. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10457773 |title=Rocket project gears for take off |date=15 August 2007 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=17 November 2009}}
30. ^{{cite news |url=http://spacefellowship.com/2009/11/16/rocket-lab-primed-to-launch-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-first-rocket-into-space/ |title=Rocket lab primed to launch New Zealand's first rocket into space |publisher=Space Fellowship |last=Goldsmith |first=Rob |date=16 November 2009 |accessdate=17 November 2009}}
31. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-06-29/at-18-he-strapped-a-rocket-engine-to-his-bike-now-he-s-taking-on-spacex |title=At 18, He Strapped a Rocket Engine to His Bike. Now He’s Taking on SpaceX |work=Bloomberg Business |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |date=29 June 2017 |accessdate=19 November 2018}}
32. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10612593 |title=NZ's first space launch saved by $6 replacement part |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=30 November 2009 |accessdate=11 September 2011}}
33. ^{{Cite news |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2016/03/23/rocket-lab-completes-flight-qualification-for-electrons-rutherford-engine/ |title=Rocket Lab Completes Flight Qualification for Electron's Rutherford Engine |last=Henry |first=Caleb |work=Via Satellite |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=5 April 2016}}
34. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11300831 |title=NZ to get its own space programme by 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald |agency=APNZ |last=Ryan |first=Sophie |date=29 July 2014}}
35. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11432396 |title=Rocket Lab unveils world's first battery rocket engine |work=The New Zealand Herald |last=Bradley |first=Grant |date=15 April 2015}}
36. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.popsci.com/rocket-labs-got-3d-printed-battery-powered-rocket-engine |title=A 3D-Printed, Battery-Powered Rocket Engine |work=Popular Science |last=Grush |first=Loren |date=15 April 2015}}
37. ^{{Cite news |url=http://www.popsci.com/rocket-lab-plans-to-launch-its-new-rocket-engine-later-this-year |title=Rocket Lab Plans To Launch New, Affordable Rocket Engine Later This Year |work=Popular Science |first=Sarah |last=Fecht |date=24 March 2016 |access-date=5 April 2016}}
38. ^{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/25/maiden-flight-of-rocket-labs-small-satellite-launcher-reaches-space/ |title=Maiden flight of Rocket Lab’s small satellite launcher reaches space |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=25 May 2017 |accessdate=25 May 2017}}
39. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/rocket-lab-completes-post-flight-analysis/ |title=Rocket Lab Completes Post-Flight Analysis |publisher=Rocket Lab |date=7 August 2017 |accessdate=7 August 2017}}
40. ^{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/telemetry-glitch-kept-first-electron-rocket-from-reaching-orbit/ |title=Telemetry glitch kept first Electron rocket from reaching orbit |work=SpaceNews |first=Jeff |last=Foust |date=7 August 2017 |accessdate=9 August 2017}}
41. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rocket-lab-test-20170524-story.html |title=Rocket Lab's Electron rocket reaches space, but not orbit, in first test flight |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Samantha |last=Masunaga |date=25 May 2017 |accessdate=26 May 2017}}
42. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11979201 |title=Blast off! Rocket Lab successfully reaches orbit |work=The New Zealand Herald |last=Ryan |first=Holly |date=21 January 2018 |access-date=21 January 2018}}
43. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16926426/rocket-lab-humanity-star-secret-satellite-electron-test-launch |title=Rocket Lab secretly launched a disco ball satellite on its latest test flight |work=The Verge |last=Grush |first=Loren |date=24 January 2018 |access-date=24 January 2018}}
44. ^{{cite news |url=https://mashable.com/2018/03/22/humanity-star-rocket-lab-reentry/ |title=The Humanity Star satellite has fallen back to Earth after its short mission in space |work=Mashable |first=Miriam |last=Kramer |date=22 March 2018 |accessdate=22 November 2018}}
45. ^1 {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/10/science/rocket-lab-launch.html |title=Rocket Lab's Modest Launch Is Giant Leap for Small Rocket Business |work=The New York Times |first=Kenneth |last=Chang |date=11 November 2018 |accessdate=11 November 2018}}
46. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-to-launch-dedicated-electron-mission-for-darpa/|title=Rocket Lab to launch dedicated Electron mission for DARPA|work=Rocketlab|date=29 March 2019|accessdate=20 March 2019}}
47. ^{{cite news |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/inside-rocketlab/ |title=Exclusive Inside Look at Rocket Lab's Previously-secret new Mega Factory! |work=Everyday Astronaut |first=Tim |last=Dodd |date=11 October 2018 |accessdate=10 November 2018 |quote=Although Rocket Lab's engines and avionics are built in Huntington Beach, California, the final assembly of the vehicle is done here in Auckland–A fitting choice, as they're currently only launching from their Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, some 500 km away.}}
48. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-01/space-base-in-new-zealand-picked-to-start-private-trips-to-orbit |title=Space Base in New Zealand Picked to Start Private Trips to Orbit |agency=Bloomberg |first=Lauren |last=Thomas |date=1 July 2015 |accessdate=1 July 2015}}
49. ^{{cite news |url=http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2028761-135/rocket-lab-chooses-mahia-for-space |title=Rocket Lab chooses Mahia for space launches |work=Gisborne Herald |last1=Gregory |first1=Debbie |last2=Ashton |first2=Andrew |date=24 November 2015}}
50. ^{{Cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/84299891/new-zealand-space-industry-prepared-for-takeoff |title=New Zealand space industry prepared for takeoff |website=Stuff.co.nz |first=Hamish |last=McNicol |date=18 September 2016 |accessdate=18 September 2016}}
51. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/34195-rocket-lab-opens-private-launch-site-new-zealand.html |title=Rocket Lab Opens Private Orbital Launch Site in New Zealand |work=Space.com |first=Calla |last=Cofield |date=26 September 2016 |accessdate=26 September 2016}}
52. ^{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/10/rocket-lab-us-wallops-first-launch-site-readies-electron-november-launch/ |title=Rocket Lab selects Wallops as first U.S. launch site, readies Electron for November launch |work=NASASpaceFlight.com |first=Chris |last=Gebhardt |date=17 October 2018 |accessdate=23 October 2018}}

External links

{{commons category|Rocket Lab}}
  • {{Official website|rocketlabusa.com}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

15 : Rocket Lab|Private spaceflight companies|Commercial launch service providers|Rocket engine manufacturers|Aerospace companies of the United States|Manufacturing companies based in the Greater Los Angeles Area|Companies based in Huntington Beach, California|Transport companies of New Zealand|New Zealand subsidiaries of foreign companies|Mahia Peninsula|Sounding rockets of New Zealand|American companies established in 2006|Transport companies established in 2006|Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2006|2006 establishments in California
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