We've got some more details on RocketLab's MSR proposal:

The company’s concept centers around two Neutron rockets, one launching an Earth Return Orbiter and another launching a lander carrying the Mars Ascent Vehicle.

The lander would retrieve up to 30 sample tubes from NASA’s Perseverance rover, which has been on the Martian surface since 2021, and launch them into orbit, where the Earth Return Orbiter would capture them for the journey back. Rocket Lab said it would aim to return samples as early as 2031 for under $2 billion.

https://x.com/RocketLab/status/1840143678171689435

Things have been heating up at Stennis 🔥

The Archimedes engine development and qualification campaign continues to progress well with lots of hot fires taking the engine through various operating conditions and tweaks.

Kinéis Killed The RadIoT Star

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-09-20 23:01 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (NZST) | 2024-09-21 11:01 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1A, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie | | Customer | Kinéis | | Payload | Kinéis 6-10 | | Mission success criteria | Successful deployment of spacecraft into desired orbit |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beVTGh_PrA0 (scrub) | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDMBcSt4PUo (scrub) | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87oFE1ZmRck (scrub) |

Stats

• This will be the 11th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
• This will be the 53rd overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

Second batch of five satellites for the French Kinéis IoT constellation designed to operate with 25 nanosatellites of 30 kg each. The constellation will enable Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites) an international space-based solutions provider, to improve its global IoT connectivity.

Previous mission: A Sky Full Of SARs

Next mission: TBD

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively new community, so feedback is very valuable!

Peter Beck shares a photo of the factory.

Source: https://x.com/Peter_J_Beck/status/1830782638136926332

AFP: Automated (carbon) Fibre Placement

A Sky Full Of SARs

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-08-11 13:18 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (NZST) | 2024-08-12 01:18 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie | | Customers | Capella Space | | Payload | Acadia-3 | | Mission success criteria | Successful deployment of spacecraft into desired orbit |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFH0ZS2GHd8 | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1EIRGMhgWg | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKC0aVLJvas |

Stats

• This will be the 10th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
• This will be the 52nd overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

Acadia-3

Capella Space introduced its latest generation of satellites named "Acadia", which offer increased imaging capability and improved communications connectivity. These satellites are smaller and lighter than previous models, but offer higher resolution and detection capabilities, enabling better Earth observation and more accurate decision-making.

Capella Space's new generation of satellites feature synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, which allows them to capture images of the Earth in all weather conditions and at any time of the day or night. In addition, these satellites have enhanced communication capabilities, allowing them to transmit data and images faster and more efficiently.

Previous mission: Owl For One, One For Owl

Next mission: Kinéis Killed The RadIoT Star

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively new community, so feedback is very valuable!

Some more info on the recent engine tests.

Peter Beck on twitter:

Archimedes has been breathing fire! Started at low power and now cranking it up.

Cryogenic burst test of a Neutron stage 2 test tank last October.

This crucial test involved filling the tank with liquid nitrogen & pressurizing it to expected flight pressures, then pushing it all the way to failure to test extreme tolerances.

https://x.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1819097810517586100

Rocket Lab is currently hiring for numerous marine positions related to the development of the Neutron rocket landing barge. The available roles include:

• Marine Operations & Logistics Lead
• Recovery Engineers (II, Senior, and Lead)
• Marine Commodity Managers (Supply Chain)

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/careers/positions/

Interesting that Rocket Lab is now considering barge landings for Neutron. This contrasts with one of the early concept videos where they stated that Neutron would always RTLS (return to launch site), and not land on a barge.

Owl For One, One For Owl

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-08-02 16:39 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (NZST) | 2024-08-03 04:39 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie | | Customers | Synspective | | Payload | StriX satellite | | Mission success criteria | Successful deployment of spacecraft into desired orbit |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdikUDvKYmc | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svnhIFuI4ro |

Stats

• This will be the 9th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
• This will be the 51st overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

StriX Launch 5

This is the first of a bulk buy of two Electron launches by Synspective to deliver their StriX satellites to low Earth orbit. StriX satellites can collect data with a ground resolution of 1-3m and a swath width of more than 10-30km. Each Electron launch will deliver 1 StriX satellite into orbit. This will be the overall 5th StriX satellite launched by Rocket Lab for Synspective.

Previous mission: No Time Toulouse

Next mission: A Sky Full Of SARs

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively new community, so feedback is very valuable!

Dawn aerospace looking good

Pretty cool interview with Sir Peter

No Time Toulouse

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-06-20 18:13 | |

|

| | Scheduled for (NZST) | 2024-06-21 06:13 | | Launch site | Rocket Lab LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand | | Booster recovery | No | | Launch vehicle | Electron + Curie | | Customers | Kinéis | | Payloads | Kinéis 1-5 | | Mission success criteria | Successful deployment of spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit |

Livestreams

| Stream | Link | |

|

| | Rocket Lab (official) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYpQkHw9s1I | Everyday Astronaut | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjEdn_6evjs | The Launch Pad |

Stats

• This will be the 8th launch for Rocket Lab this year.
• This will be the 🎉 50th 🎉 overall launch for Rocket Lab.

Payload info:

Rocket Lab mission page

NextSpaceflight:

First batch of five satellites for the French Kinéis IoT constellation designed to operate with 25 nanosatellites of 30 kg each. The constellation will enable Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites) an international space-based solutions provider, to improve its global IoT connectivity.

Previous mission (PREFIRE And Ice) | Next mission (Owl For One, One For Owl)

Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here! Also feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for the mod team. We’re a relatively new community, so feedback is very valuable!