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Rocketlab does have "real world results" - they've launched customer payloads to orbit 18 times in the last few years. AFAIK, blue origin has not achieved orbit
by rrss 6y ago
Rocketlab does have "real world results" - they've launched customer payloads to orbit 18 times in the last few years. AFAIK, blue origin has not achieved orbit, and virgin orbit is still doing (years-delayed?) demonstration missions (which have achieved orbit), so I don't think it makes sense to lump all "not spacex" together.
- Gibbon1 6y agoInteresting thing to me is they haven't had any failures of primary components either. 18 launches, 10 engines per rocket, 180 total, no failures as far as I've read. Don't know if they are going to stay with the electric pump-fed engine design or not for the neutron.
- jryle70 6y agoThey had one mission failure last year that destroyed all payloads: https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/31/rocket-lab-identifies-faulty-electrical-connector-as-cause-of-launch-failure/ https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/31/rocket-lab-identifies-...
- Gibbon1 6y agoYeah but that was far as I understand a loose connector. I think my thought is that with conventional turbopumps you're uncomfortably close to fatigue and thermal limits. Where with electric pumps you may much farther way.