Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Destination: Alpha Centauri => Topic started by: Buster's Uncle on December 12, 2017, 06:26:15 pm

Title: Rocket Lab Aborts Test Launch Seconds Before Liftoff
Post by: Buster's Uncle on December 12, 2017, 06:26:15 pm

Rocket Lab Aborts Test Launch Seconds Before Liftoff
Space.com
By Calla Cofield, Space.com Senior Writer |  December 11, 2017 11:09pm ET


(https://img.purch.com/w/660/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zcGFjZS5jb20vaW1hZ2VzL2kvMDAwLzA3Mi80Mjgvb3JpZ2luYWwvcm9ja2V0bGFiLkpQRw==)
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket nearly took off from the company's launch facility in New Zealand on Dec. 11, but launch was aborted seconds before takeoff.  Credit: Rocket Lab

 

The private spaceflight company Rocket Lab aborted a scheduled test launch of its small-scale Electron rocket today (Dec. 11), just 2 seconds before liftoff.

At Rocket Lab's private launch facility in New Zealand, the countdown clock had nearly reached zero when a white puff of smoke erupted from the bottom of the Electron rocket — but then, the clock stopped, and the rocket failed to rise off the ground. The launch was abruptly halted at 10:50 p.m. EST on Dec. 11 (0350 GMT), which is 4:50 p.m. New Zealand Time on Dec. 12.

"After reviewing the telemetry and data, and time remaining in our launch window, the team has decided to wave-off for the rest of the day," Daniel Gillies, Rocket Lab's mission management and integration director, said during a live webcast on the company's website. 

This is the second test launch of Rocket Lab's small-scale Electron rocket; the first test flight took place in May. This test — which the company has named "Still Testing" — has a 10-day launch window that opened on Dec. 7. Poor weather conditions have delayed a launch attempt until today.


https://www.space.com/39056-rocket-lab-scrubs-test-launch-seconds-before-liftoff.html (https://www.space.com/39056-rocket-lab-scrubs-test-launch-seconds-before-liftoff.html)

Title: Re: Rocket Lab Aborts Test Launch Seconds Before Liftoff
Post by: Unorthodox on December 13, 2017, 09:34:15 pm

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/940765307483848704?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Quote

Analysis of yesterday's launch attempt is complete. Launch was aborted due to rising liquid oxygen temperatures - the result of a LOx chilldown bleed schedule not compatible with the warm conditions of the day. The fix is simple. Next attempt tomorrow!

Title: Re: Rocket Lab Aborts Test Launch Seconds Before Liftoff
Post by: Unorthodox on December 14, 2017, 07:39:33 pm

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/99843437/rocket-lab-ready-for-fourth-launch-attempt (https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/99843437/rocket-lab-ready-for-fourth-launch-attempt)

Quote

jet stream wind speeds would have violated the "conservative criteria" the company had set for its second test flight – which will also mark its first attempt to put satellites into orbit.

Title: Re: Rocket Lab Aborts Test Launch Seconds Before Liftoff
Post by: Unorthodox on December 20, 2017, 01:50:06 pm

Realized I'd never heard an update.

Postponed till next year:  http://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-postpones-electron-launch-to-early-2018/ (http://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-postpones-electron-launch-to-early-2018/)

Guess it's flight plan was going to push into christmas holiday, so they decided to just wait till after the break.