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HandWiki. Electron (Rocket). Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28479 (accessed on 15 December 2024).
HandWiki. Electron (Rocket). Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28479. Accessed December 15, 2024.
HandWiki. "Electron (Rocket)" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28479 (accessed December 15, 2024).
HandWiki. (2022, October 08). Electron (Rocket). In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28479
HandWiki. "Electron (Rocket)." Encyclopedia. Web. 08 October, 2022.
Electron (Rocket)
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The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Engineering:Electron_(rocket)

Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab to service the commercial small satellite launch segment. Its Rutherford engines, manufactured in California , are the first electric-pump-fed engine to power an orbital rocket. In December 2016, Electron completed flight qualification. The first rocket was launched on 25 May 2017, reaching space but not achieving orbit due to a glitch in communication equipment on the ground. During its second flight on 21 January 2018, Electron reached orbit and deployed three CubeSats. The first commercial launch of Electron, and the third launch overall, occurred on 11 November 2018.

small satellite launch vehicle electron

1. Design

Electron uses two stages with the same diameter (1.2 m, 3 ft 11 in) filled with RP-1/LOX propellant. The main body of the rocket is constructed using a lightweight carbon composite material.[1]

Both stages use the innovative Rutherford rocket engine, the first electric-pump-fed engine to power an orbital rocket.[2] The electric pumps are powered by Li-Polymer batteries. The second stage uses three batteries which are "hot swapped", two of the batteries are jettisoned once depleted to shed mass.[3] There are nine Rutherford engines on the first stage and one vacuum-optimized version on the second stage.[4][5][6] The first stage engines deliver 162 kN (36,000 lbf) of force and the second stage delivers 22 kN (4,900 lbf) of force. Almost all of the engines' parts are 3D printed to save time and money in the manufacturing process.[1][2]

Rocket Lab has also developed an optional third stage designed to circularize the orbits of its satellite payloads. The stage also puts satellites into a more accurate orbit in less time. This "kick" stage employs a new rocket engine, named Curie, that is capable of performing multiple burns, uses an unspecified "green" monopropellant, and is 3D printed. It was first used during Electron's second flight.[7] The "kick" stage can transport up to 150 kg (330 lb) of payload.[8]

Another third stage design, called 'Photon', is being developed to inject small payloads up to 30 kg (66 lb) into lunar orbit.[9]

1.1. Production

Manufacturing the carbon composite components of the main flight structure has traditionally required 400 hours, with extensive hand labor in the process. In late 2019, Rocket Lab brought online a new robotic manufacturing capability to produce all composite parts for an Electron in just 12 hours. The robot was nicknamed "'Rosie' the Robot", after The Jetsons character. The process can make all the carbon fiber structures, as well as handle cutting, drilling, and sanding such that the parts are ready for final assembly. The company objective as of November 2019 is to reduce the overall Electron manufacturing cycle to just seven days.[10][11]

Rutherford engine production makes extensive use of additive manufacturing and has since the earliest flights of Electron. This allows the capability to scale production in a relatively straightforward manner by increasing the number and capability of 3D printers.[10]

1.2. Reflight

On 6 August 2019 Rocket Lab announced recovery and reflight plans for the first stage of Electron, although plans had started internally from late 2018.[12] Electron was not originally designed to be reusable launch vehicle as it is a small-lift launch vehicle but was pursued due to increased understanding of Electron's performance based off of analysis of previous flights though sensors on the vehicle. In addition, reusability was pursued to meet launch demands.[13][14] To counteract decreased payload capacity caused by recovery technology performance improvements to Electrons are expected.[14]

Early phases of recovery included data gathering and surviving atmospheric reentry also known as "the wall".[12][15] The next phase will require a successful deployment of an aerodynamic decelerator or ballute to slow the booster followed by the deployment of parafoil concluded by a touchdown in the ocean. After a successful touchdown in the ocean the stage would be moved onto a ship for refurbishment and reflight.[16] Rocket Lab has not released information on aerodynamic decelerator that would be required to slow down the booster after atmospheric reentry.[13] Late phases Electron reuse will involve using a parafoil and mid-air retrieval by a helicopter. After a successful mid-air retrieval the helicopter would bring the Electron to a ship that would bring the stage to the launch site for refurbishment and launch.[12][17]

Aerothermal Decelerator

Rocket Lab investigating reuseablity decided that they will not pursue propulsive recovery like SpaceX. Instead they will use the atmosphere to slow down the booster in whats known as "aerothermal decelerator" technology. The exact methods used are propriety but may include keeping proper orientation when reentering the atmosphere and other technologies.[15][18]

Vehicle Modification History

Electron flight 6 and 7 ("That's a Funny Looking Cactus" and "Make it Rain") had instruments on the first stage needed to gather data to help with the reflight program. Flight 8 ("Look Ma No Hands") had Brutus an instrument that collected data from the first stage to study reentry and was designed to be able to survive splashdown in the ocean.[12][16]

Flight 10 ("Running out Fingers") had a block update to the first stage of the Electron to allow the first guided reentry of the first stage booster. Updates included additional hardware for guidance and navigation; onboard flight computers; and S-Band telemetry to both gather and livestream data gathered during reentry. The first stage also had a reaction control system (RCS) to orient the booster.[19][20] After, stage separation the first stage using the new hardware installed flipped 180° to prepare for reentry. Throughout the reentry the stage was guided though the atmosphere such that it has the right orientation and angle of attack for the base heat shield to protect the booster from destruction using RCS and onboard computers.[15][21] The booster successfully survived its guided re-entry despite having no deceleration hardware onboard and destructively splashed down into the ocean at 900 km/h (560 mph) as planned if reentry was successful.[15][22] Rocket Lab had no plans to recover the stage and instead wanted to demonstrate the ability to successfully reenter.[21] Flight 11 ("Birds of a Feather") again successfully demonstrated similar success.[23][24] There are no further atmospheric reentry tests similar to flight 10 and 11 are expected.[25]

Following flight 11 in mid-February 2020 low altitude tests were done to test parachutes. In April 2020 Rocket Lab shared the successful demonstration of mid-air retrieval done in March 2020. An Electron test article was dropped by a helicopter and deployed its parachutes. A helicopter carrying a long-boom snagged a drogue line from the parachute at 1,500 m (5,000 ft) demonstrating a successful retrieval. Following the catch the test article was brought back to land.[25][26]

Flight 17 will demonstrate a parachute full recovery with a splashdown into the ocean.[26]

2. Use

Electron is designed to launch a 150 to 225 kg (330 to 495 lb) payload to a 500 km (310 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit, suitable for CubeSats and other small payloads.[27][28] In October 2018 Rocket Lab opened a factory large enough to produce more than 50 rockets per year according to the company.[29] Customers may choose to encapsulate their spacecraft in payload fairings provided by the company, which can be easily attached to the rocket shortly before launch.[30] The price for delivering up to 150 kg to a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit is about $6 million per launch, which offers the only dedicated service at this price point.[31][32][33]

Moon Express contracted Rocket lab to launch lunar landers (multiple launches contracted, some planned for Moon Express operations after GLXP) on an Electron to compete for the Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP).[34] None of the contenders met the prize deadline, and the competition was closed without a winner. [35] For sometime after the closure of GLXP, the Moon Express Electron launches remained scheduled, but before February 2020, all the launches of Moon Express using Electron were canceled.[36]

3. Launch Sites

The Mahia launch site under construction in 2016. By Rodney Allen - https://www.flickr.com/photos/25355759@N07/28799213203/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51980299

The rocket is launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.[1] The launch pad's remote and sparsely populated location is intended to enable a high frequency of launches.[1] The rocket and launch pad were both privately funded, the first time all parts of an orbital launch operation were entirely run by the private sector (other private spaceflight companies lease launch facilities from government agencies or only launch suborbital rockets).[1][28]

In October 2018, Rocket Lab selected Virginia Space's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at the Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, as its future secondary launch site in the United States, called Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2. The first launches from Wallops are planned in the third quarter of 2020.[37][38] Launch Complex 2 is expected to serve government customers.[39]

Additionally, the UK Space Agency is giving Highlands and Islands Enterprise the opportunity to develop an Electron launch pad on the A' Mhòine Peninsula in Sutherland, Scotland.[40] The location would be named Sutherland spaceport.[41]

4. Launch History

The Electron has flown 13 times since May 2017. There have been 11 successes and 2 failures. The initial test flight, called "It's a Test", failed due to a glitch in communication equipment on the ground, but the follow-up missions, called "Still Testing", "It's Business Time" and "This One's For Pickering", delivered multiple small payloads to low Earth orbit.[42][43] In August 2019, a mission named "Look Ma, No Hands" successfully delivered four satellites to orbit,[44] and in October 2019, the mission named "As the Crow Flies" successfully launched from Mahia LC-1, deploying a small satellite and its kick stage into a 400 km parking orbit.[45] In July 2020, an Electron rocket failed with customer payloads onboard, the first failure after the maiden flight.[46]

Notable launches

  • "Still Testing", Electron's first successful launch[47]
  • ELaNa-19 "This One's For Pickering", Electron's first NASA-sponsored launch[48]
  • NROL-151 "Birds of a Feather", Electron's first NRO-sponsored launch[49]

References

  1. Smyth, Jamie (21 January 2018). "Private group in 'world first' cheap rocket launch". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/41572f8a-fe4d-11e7-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5. Retrieved 22 January 2018. 
  2. Grush, Loren (14 April 2015). "A 3D-Printed, Battery-Powered Rocket Engine". Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/rocket-labs-got-3d-printed-battery-powered-rocket-engine. Retrieved 22 January 2018. 
  3. "Launch Week Arrives for Rocket Lab's Electron – Spaceflight101" (in en-US). http://spaceflight101.com/launch-week-arrives-for-rocket-labs-electron/. 
  4. Brügge, Norbert. "Electron NLV". B14643.de. http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Electron-NLV/Description/Text.htm. Retrieved 20 September 2016. 
  5. Brügge, Norbert. "Electron Propulsion". B14643.de. http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Electron-NLV/Propulsion/engines.htm. Retrieved 20 September 2016. 
  6. "Propulsion". Rocket Lab. https://rocketlabusa.com/about-us/propulsion/. 
  7. Foust, Jeff (23 January 2018). "Rocket Lab launch also tested new kick stage". SpaceNews. http://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launch-also-tested-new-kick-stage/. 
  8. Rocket Lab (23 January 2018). "Rocket Lab successfully circularizes orbit with new Electron kick stage". https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-circularizes-orbit-with-new-electron-kick-stage/. 
  9. Berger, Eric (21 October 2019). "Rocket Lab—yep, Rocket Lab—has a plan to deliver satellites to the Moon". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/rocket-lab-yep-rocket-lab-has-a-plan-to-deliver-satellites-to-the-moon/. 
  10. Foust, Jeff (13 November 2019). "Rocket Lab introduces robotic manufacturing system to increase Electron production". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-introduces-robotic-manufacturing-system-to-increase-electron-production/. 
  11. Elizabeth Howell (21 November 2019). "SpaceX Competitor's 'Rosie the Robot' To Pump Out Rocket Parts Every 12 Hours". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethhowell1/2019/11/21/spacex-competitors-rosie-the-robot-to-pump-out-rocket-parts-every-12-hours/. 
  12. 6 August, 2019. "Rocket Lab Announces Reusability Plans For Electron Rocket" (in en). https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-announces-reusability-plans-for-electron-rocket/. 
  13. Beck, Peter (2019-08-07). "Here's why Rocket Lab changed its mind on reusable launch" (Interview). Interviewed by Berger Eric. https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/heres-why-rocket-lab-changed-its-mind-on-reusable-launch
  14. Foust, Jeff (6 August 2019). "Rocket Lab to attempt to reuse Electron first stage". https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-attempt-to-reuse-electron-first-stage/. Retrieved 18 July 2020. 
  15. Sheetz, Michael (2019-12-06). "Rocket Lab 'punched through the wall,' CEO says, passing key milestone in effort to reuse rockets" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/06/rocket-lab-passed-key-milestone-to-recover-rockets-like-spacex.html. 
  16. Atkinson, Ian (2019-08-19). "Rocket Lab launches Electron flight 8. Company previews first stage recovery" (in en-US). https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/08/rocket-lab-electron-flight-8-towards-first-stage-recovery/. 
  17. Grush, Loren (2019-08-06). "Small satellite launcher Rocket Lab unveils plans to recover its rockets midair with helicopters" (in en). https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/6/20757441/rocket-lab-electron-reusable-helicopter-recovery-spacex. 
  18. Sheetz, Michael (2019-08-06). "Rocket Lab unveils plan to land small rockets by catching them with a helicopter" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/06/rocket-lab-plans-to-reuse-small-rockets-by-catching-with-a-helicopter.html. 
  19. "Next Generation Electron Booster on the Pad for Rocket Lab’s 10th Mission" (in en). 5 November 2019. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/next-generation-electron-booster-on-the-pad-for-rocket-labs-10th-mission/. 
  20. Foust, Jeff (2019-12-06). "Electron launches smallsats in test of rocket reusability" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/electron-launches-smallsats-in-test-of-rocket-reusability/. 
  21. Clark, Stephen (6 December 2019). "Rocket Lab’s 10th launch tests booster recovery technology" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/12/06/rocket-labs-10th-launch-tests-booster-recovery-technology/. 
  22. Sampson, Ben (9 December 2019). "Rocket Lab successfully flight tests re-entry of rocket booster". https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/space/rocket-lab-successfully-flight-tests-re-entry-of-rocket-booster.html. Retrieved 11 December 2019. 
  23. Clark, Stephen (31 January 2020). "Rocket Lab successfully launches NRO satellite" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/01/31/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-nro-satellite/. 
  24. "Rocket Lab Successfully Deploys NRO Satellite On 11th Electron Mission" (in en). 31 January 2020. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/news/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-deploys-nro-satellite-on-11th-electron-mission/. 
  25. Fletcher, Colin (2020-06-12). "Rocket Lab launches 12th Electron, continues work on future plans" (in en-US). https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/06/rocket-lab-launch-12th-electron-future-plans/. 
  26. Clark, Stephen (15 April 2020). "Rocket Lab reports recovery test success" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/04/15/rocket-lab-reports-recovery-test-success/. 
  27. "Electron". Rocket Lab. https://rocketlabusa.com/electron/. Retrieved 24 July 2017. 
  28. Cofield, Calla (26 September 2016). "Rocket Lab Opens Private Orbital Launch Site in New Zealand". Space.com. https://www.space.com/34195-rocket-lab-opens-private-launch-site-new-zealand.html. Retrieved 22 January 2018. 
  29. Dodd, Tim (11 October 2018). "Exclusive inside look at Rocket Lab's secret new mega factory!". Everyday Astronaut. https://everydayastronaut.com/inside-rocketlab/. Retrieved 12 October 2018. 
  30. "Payload User's Guide". Rocket Lab. December 2016. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/assets/Uploads/Payload-User-Guide.pdf. 
  31. Mann, Adam (6 December 2017). "Rocket Lab poised to provide dedicated launcher for CubeSat science". Science. http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/12/rocket-lab-poised-provide-dedicated-launcher-cubesat-science. Retrieved 6 December 2017. 
  32. "Electron". Rocket Lab. March 2016. http://www.rocketlabusa.com/. 
  33. Berger, Eric (12 April 2018). "Rocket Lab is about to win the small satellite launch space race". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/04/for-rocket-lab-ready-to-begin-commercial-launches-life-is-good/. Retrieved 20 July 2018. 
  34. Grush, Loren (21 January 2018). "Spaceflight startup Rocket Lab sends its Electron rocket to orbit for the first time". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/21/16915996/rocket-lab-electron-orbit-still-testing-small-satellites-success. Retrieved 22 January 2018. 
  35. Wall, Mike (23 January 2018). "Ex-Prize: Google's $30 Million Moon Race Ends with No Winner". Space.com. https://www.space.com/39467-google-lunar-xprize-moon-race-ends.html. Retrieved 27 January 2018. 
  36. Moon Express [@MoonEx] (9 February 2020). "There is no upcoming launch with RocketLab. We contracted with RocketLab back in 2015 for a GLXP attempt. We are currently focused on efforts supporting NASA under our Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract.". https://twitter.com/MoonEx/status/1226582161735553025. 
  37. Foust, Jeff (17 October 2018). "Rocket Lab selects Wallops for U.S. launch site". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/breaking-rocket-lab-chooses-wallops-as-its-u-s-launch-site/. 
  38. "Rocket Lab tests Electron on new Virginia launch pad" (in en-US). 2020-04-30. https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-tests-electron-on-new-virginia-launch-pad/. 
  39. Clark, Stephen (29 June 2019). "Rocket Lab flies again from New Zealand as work progresses at Virginia launch pad". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/06/29/rocket-lab-flies-again-from-new-zealand-as-construction-advances-at-virginia-launch-pad/. 
  40. Amos, Jonathan (16 July 2018). "Scotland to host first UK spaceport". BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44841123. Retrieved 16 July 2018. 
  41. "Sutherland Spaceport Scotland". https://www.spacetv.net/sutherland-spaceport-scotland/. 
  42. "Rocket Lab Completes Post-Flight Analysis". Rocket Lab. 7 August 2017. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/latest/rocket-lab-completes-post-flight-analysis/. Retrieved 7 August 2017. 
  43. Foust, Jeff (7 August 2017). "Telemetry glitch kept first Electron rocket from reaching orbit". SpaceNews. http://spacenews.com/telemetry-glitch-kept-first-electron-rocket-from-reaching-orbit/. Retrieved 9 August 2017. 
  44. Howell, Elizabeth (19 August 2019). "Rocket Lab Electron Booster Launches 4 Satellites Into Orbit". Space.com. https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-electron-launches-four-satellites-eighth-flight.html. Retrieved 22 August 2019. 
  45. Etherington, Darrell (16 October 2019). "Rocket Lab successfully launches fifth Electron rocket this year". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/16/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-fifth-electron-rocket-this-year/. Retrieved 20 November 2019. 
  46. Foust, Jeff (4 July 2020). "Rocket Lab Electron launch fails". https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-electron-launch-fails/. Retrieved 4 July 2020. 
  47. Clark, Stephen (21 January 2018). "Rocket Lab delivers nanosatellites to orbit on first successful test launch". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/21/rocket-lab-delivers-nanosatellites-to-orbit-on-first-successful-test-launch/. 
  48. Clark, Stephen (17 December 2018). "NASA, Rocket Lab partner on successful satellite launch from New Zealand". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/12/17/nasa-rocket-lab-partner-on-successful-satellite-launch-from-new-zealand/. 
  49. Wall 2020-01-31T03:28:03Z, Mike. "Rocket Lab launches satellite for US spysat agency, guides booster back to Earth" (in en). https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-launches-nrol-151-spysat.html. 
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