Welcome to Rocket Report 4.35! No report next week. We are now one week away from the momentous deployment of the Space Launch System rocket for the first time on the launch pad. I will be taking spring break with my family next week, so there will be no newsletter, but I will be back in time to follow the deployment on Thursday evening, March 17th. Look for full coverage of Trevor Mahlmann and I on Ars Technica following Friday morning.

As always, we Reader Submissions Welcome, and if you don’t want to miss an issue, please sign up using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP versions of the site). Each report will contain information on small, medium and heavy rockets as well as a quick overview of the next three launches on the schedule.

Voters Resolutely Reject Spaceport in Georgia. According to unofficial results, 72% of Camden County voters voted on Tuesday to halt the purchase of land for a spaceport in the US state of Georgia, First Coast News reports. This represents a stark (and possibly fatal) setback for the vertical-launch spaceport. The county spent $10.3 million on the project, which has been in the planning stages since 2012. Ahead of the vote, project supporters said the spaceport would create jobs and diversify the county’s economy.

A clear message … However, opponents have pointed out that the land is contaminated with industrial sites that have been housed there in the past, including a former rocket fuel facility. There were also concerns about rockets flying over the national coastline of Cumberland Island. Camden County Officials indicated they may fight that referendum in court, but the fight seems like a tough chore given overwhelming public sentiment against the bill. Beware, defenders of spaceports: make sure the local community is on your side. (submitted by Zapman987, EllPeaTea and Ken the Bin)

Diagnosed Rocket 3.3 second stage issues. Astra Space said on Monday it had identified two issues that led to a failed launch last month, SpaceNews reports. The company said it investigated the Feb. 10 failure of its Rocket 3.3 vehicle to reach orbit. The investigation determined that the root cause was an error in a wiring diagram of the payload shroud that prevented all of its separation mechanisms from firing. This problem prevented the fairing from separating until the upper stage of the rocket, which is encapsulated by the fairing, ignited its engine.

Back to the drawing board … “This harness was built and fitted to the vehicle exactly as specified by our procedures and the technical drawing,” said Andrew Griggs, Senior Director of Mission Management and Assurance at Astra. However, the drawing swapped two wire harness channels. A second issue with the February launch concerned the thrust vector control system on the upper stage. Astra said it fixed those flaws. According to filings, the company could attempt another launch as early as next week. To date, four of the company’s five orbital launch attempts have ended in failure. (submitted by Ken the Bin)

Iran launches second military satellite. Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reported tuesday that the company had successfully launched its second military satellite into low Earth orbit. The Noor-2 satellite was placed into an orbit 500 km above Earth by a three-stage rocket named Qased. This rocket previously launched the Noor-1 satellites for the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace wing in 2020.

Not for military purposes? … This feat came after the country struggled to successfully launch other small orbital rockets. Iran, which has long said it is not seeking nuclear weapons, has previously maintained that its satellite launches and rocket tests have no military component, Reports from Radio Free Europe. The launch adds urgency to negotiations between Western countries and Iran to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, the publication said. (submitted by Ken the Bin and EllPeaTea)

First launch from Cornwall to boost Welsh satellite. Virgin Orbit and European space manufacturing start-up Space Forge announced Wednesday they have reached an agreement to launch the first satellite developed in Wales in the summer of 2022. The ForgeStar satellite will be flown on LauncherOne as part of the effort to open the UK’s first national spaceport at Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, Cornwall.

Several firsts … “We at Virgin Orbit are delighted to have been chosen to take Space Forge forward on its space journey as we look forward to our maiden launch in Cornwall,” Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said in a statement. the press release. It would be the first-ever orbital launch from UK soil and the first time LauncherOne would be flown to an air launch location from a spaceport outside the US. (submitted by Ken the Bin)

German feminists launch rocket design on gender equality. A German feminist art group has revealed a concept for a vulva-shaped spaceship, Reports from the architecture magazine Dezeen. The WBF Aeronautics group encourages the European Space Agency to help realize this design to better represent humanity in space and “restore gender equality in the cosmos.” The group created the Vulva Spaceship concept to challenge the convention of, ahem, phallic spaceship design.

This is not the onion … “The project adds another dimension to the depiction of humanity in space and communicates to the world that everyone has a place in the universe, regardless of their genitals,” said the organization. Thanks to this optimized V-shape, the design ensures maximum energy efficiency, the artists said. For the project to be reviewed by the European Space Agency, 500,000 signatures are needed on the change.org website. Thursday afternoon, 663 people had signed. (submitted by HoboWhisperer)

SpaceX will launch four dozen Starlink internet satellites and land the return rocket Wednesday, March 9, and you can watch the action live.

One step in two steps Falcon 9 The rocket topped with 48 Starlink spacecraft is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. EST (1345 GMT). If all goes as planned, approximately nine minutes later the Falcon 9 first stage will descend for a vertical landing on the SpaceX A Shortfall of Gravitas drone, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred miles off the coast of Florida.

Space is important to us, which is why we strive to provide you with the best coverage of industry and launches in Florida. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support him with a subscription here.

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Space Force forecasters predict solidly favorable weather for SpaceX’s next launch on Tuesday, a mission that should boost another batch of Starlink internet satellites.

Forecasters say conditions at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are expected to be 80% “one way” for a Falcon 9 rocket launch window that runs from 8:56 a.m. to 10:57 a.m. EST. Some cloud, however, may persist around Launch Complex 40 through Tuesday.

“A collision with a sea breeze from Monday evening through early Tuesday morning will cause downpours to move east over central Florida, and these downpours have the potential to linger into the launch window,” said Space Launch Delta 45 forecasters. said sunday. “The primary weather concern for Tuesday’s launch attempt is the cumulus rule.”

China would develop and test its hypersonic technology at an unprecedented rate. He claims to have added another engine to his arsenal that can propel him to the forefront of hypersonic racing.

China’s hypersonic weapons program hopes to launch into the future with an ‘air-breathing’ magnetic fluid engine that could make it commercial possible get anywhere on Earth in less than an hour.

By 2035, China intends to build a hypersonic passenger fleet that will use near-Earth orbit to travel to any destination in the world in less than an hour. Even though this program has been ridiculed by Western observers, China remains committed to developing an aircraft of this caliber and expanding the fleet more than a decade after a successful operation.

The program’s senior scientist said the super-quiet engine with no moving parts will also help build the next-generation launch vehicle, which is expected to significantly improve China’s space capability.

The “next generation launch vehicle” is likely to launch a crewed mission into space and could potentially make its first flight in 2026. An advanced engine powering it could prove to be a major space technology milestone for the communist nation.

The experimental engine, according to Wei Baoxi, who has overseen several of China’s “milestone” hypersonic test flights, could significantly increase the vehicle’s flight efficiency and stability.

The motor, known as a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drive, apparently generates thrust from an electrically charged fluid that is forced through it by an electromagnetic force, and it is said to be used in tandem with the scramjet, another air-breathing engine, SCMP has been informed.

The MHD was designed to power nuclear submarines, but due to the low conductivity of salt water it was deemed unsuitable.

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) propulsion is a way of using electric current, instead of a noisy propeller, to push a vessel through water. Surprisingly, a working example of this futuristic training system is quite easy to build. pic.twitter.com/BIRI6IsZUt

— Space ScienceTechnology (@PMagnetE) March 31, 2021

Air molecules on the surface of an aircraft traveling at five or more times the speed of sound, on the other hand, become electrically charged, making the futuristic engine’s ideal working environment.

The MHD engine has the potential to change near-Earth orbit flight and propel China to the forefront of aerospace racing, according to Wei, who is also deputy director of mixed-cycle engine development at Beijing Power. Machinery Research Institute.

“This technological revolution is a historic opportunity that China cannot afford to miss,” he said. “With a technological advantage, a solid industrial base and continuous innovation, China could take a unique path to develop new power systems for aerospace activities.”

China’s focus appears to be on viability and near-orbit travel, as a few weeks ago it also conducted a test flight for a new engine, which analysts say will power future hypersonic aircraft. and close to the country’s space, according to Chinese state media. — world times.

Chinese hypersonic dream engine

Winged hypersonic aircraft, according to Wei, will eventually replace regular rockets as the backbone of near-orbit transport. According to him, the MHD engine could increase the total efficiency of air-breathing spaceplanes by 10%, compared to scramjets, which suck in air and mix it with fuel to achieve combustion.

Wei and his research team wrote in a report published last month in the peer-reviewed Chinese journal “Aerospace China” that aerobic propulsion “would be the method that human beings should adopt to achieve high efficiency in moving between Earth and Space”. ”

A magnetohydrodynamic drive, also known as an MHD accelerator, is a method of propelling vehicles using only electric and magnetic fields, with no moving components, using magnetohydrodynamics to accelerate an electrically conductive propellant (liquid or gas). the fluid is directed backwards and like a reactionthe vehicle accelerates forward.

The MHD drive, according to Wei, could help overcome many technological hurdles to make commercial hypersonic spaceflight a reality, SCMP said. Currently, as the Mach number increases, the thrust created by the aerobic engines decreases and the extremely high temperatures generated can damage the surface of the aircraft.

There is also the problem of unpredictable turbulence, which requires sophisticated and expensive flight control systems, as well as the requirement for reusable key components in a successful hypersonic space vehicle.

Due to its air-breathing capability, Chinese space scientists estimate that the hypersonic aircraft currently in development will be 10 times more efficient than a rocket that requires its own oxygen.

China’s reverse-engineered MHD engine could absorb energy from surrounding fast-moving hot air molecules to preserve the surface of the craft and extend its service life.

Some of the captured energy would be converted into electricity, which is used to power powerful plasma jets that aid in flight control. The rest is routed through an afterburner, which uses electromagnetic force to drive the exhaust to generate additional thrust.

To achieve maximum performance, the magnetic fluid engine, according to Wei, will need to be combined with other emerging technologies such as rapid cooling systems and detonation engines. Recent test flights have demonstrated that these technologies have a lot of potential, he said.

These efforts could be remarkable if the claims are confirmed, as China has relentlessly tested hypersonic capability on a war footing. On the other hand, the United States still struggles to manufacture a suitable hypersonic weapon, in part due to a view within American strategic circles that the country has a much larger number of powerful ballistic missiles capable of to inflict significant damage to opponents in any potential. future conflict.

Space launch with aerobic engine

China says it is working on a next-generation rocket that should become the main launch vehicle for the country’s future manned mission.

China will launch a series of next-generation liquid propellant rockets for the country’s future space missions from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 at Airshow China in Zhuhai, southern Guangdong. China is currently developing a new manned carrier rocket and heavy-lift launch. vehicle, media reports. pic.twitter.com/zTh9BOX0ys

— Chinese Science (@ChinaScience) September 24, 2021

There are dangers in creating brand new technology, according to a Beijing-based space scientist who is not involved in Wei’s project. He said there is evidence China’s space authorities “don’t want to put all their eggs in one basket.”

In mid-February, two models of next-generation Chinese manned launch vehicles — a hypersonic aircraft and a more traditional two-stage reusable rocket — were unveiled, according to the scientist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

When Wang Xiaojun, president of the Chinese Academy of Launcher Technology, floated the idea of ​​a launcher at an international online conference, it was criticized as a forgery. It appeared it would function as SpaceX’s reusable Starship, which has become the backbone of US space missions, according to social media users.

According to the Beijing scientist, SpaceX’s feat raised questions about whether China should follow suit, as some of China’s reusable rocket prototypes had already successfully vertically landed in test flights.

While Chinese researchers aren’t abandoning reusable rocket technology, scientists say interest in air motor technology is growing. He points out that the fuel efficiency of a rocket engine is already low and that powered descents and soft landings consume even more energy.

However, in a more recent development, Science and Technology Daily declared that China’s next-generation manned launch vehicle could have a reusable first stage that can land vertically smoothly.

According to Wang Xiaojun, director of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which is part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the reusable first stage can perform engine deceleration during reentry and regulate and decelerate using pneumatic rudders. .

It’s indicative of an approach that doesn’t rely exclusively on air-breathing engines or reusable rockets. China’s investment in both types of technology could mean it intends to boost its hypersonic and conventional reusable launch capability, in tandem.

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos will launch funding in stages this year to create the country’s fully reusable carrier rocket, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said Friday.

“We are considering the option of a single medium-class rocket that will be fully reusable. That is, the first stage and the entire carrier will be used multiple times. This year, we will begin funding step by step. stage of the project. “, Rogozin said in an interview with TV Channel One.

Russia is currently developing the Amur space rocket system with a reusable first stage. Launches of the rocket will be carried out from the Vostochny spaceport in the Amur region in the Russian Far East.

The Amur carrier rocket will have a take-off weight of approximately 360 tonnes and will be 55 meters high and 4.1 meters in diameter. The transporter will feature a reusable first stage and a non-recoverable second stage, both fueled by methane.

The Amur will be capable of delivering up to 10.5 tons of payload to low near-Earth orbit with its reusable stage and 12.5 tons in its expendable configuration. The rocket’s first launch with a spacecraft is scheduled for 2026, with a program estimated at 70 billion rubles (about $843 million).

January and February are dark months in the astronomical community as the anniversaries of all major loss of American life to spaceflight occur. The Apollo 1 fire occurred on January 27, the Challenger disaster on January 28, and the Columbia blowout on February 1. Most people alive today know of or have witnessed at least one of these disasters and they have been covered quite well by countless media sources.

Spaceflight is inherently dangerous and the above missions are the worst cases. A total of 15 American astronauts have been killed during a mission, and many more have been injured or killed during flight tests and experiments closer to the ground.

In this world filled with bad news and stories, looking at these sad results made me wonder how many times a disaster does not have arrive when it should have. Here are some interesting cases.

Mercury-4: Mercury 4 was only the United States’ second spaceflight. It was sub-orbital and launched astronaut Gus Grissom on a 15-minute, 30-second flight 102 nautical miles. The flight took place on July 21, 1961. The spacecraft, known as the Liberty Bell 7, was to be a significant upgrade from the first flight with many different changes made to the craft’s design. Among these was the installation of a new explosive hatch. This was added so that an astronaut could quickly open the hatch in an emergency.

The launch took place just after 8am and Gus Grissom crashed over the Atlantic about 15 minutes later. So far, everything had gone according to plan with only a few hiccups. This would change after Grissom got comfortable waiting for the recovery team. There were two ways to set off the explosive hatch, one from inside and one from outside. From inside, Grissom had to pull a pin and press a button with some force and the explosives would blow the hatch. On this occasion, Grissom pulled the pin and sat down to wait for the recovery team when he finished the job, but something blew the hatch without him pressing the button. When this happened, the pod immediately began to take on water, and Grissom nearly drowned trying to get out. Grissom swam away as the Liberty Bell 7 sank behind him, making it the only successful water landing that resulted in a failed salvage of the ship. It was never determined exactly what happened, but the Liberty Bell 7 was finally drugged from the ocean floor in 1999. Grissom certainly had some luck on his side that day.

Apollo 12: They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice, but Apollo 12 proved that to be wrong. The follow-up to the historic moon mission got off to a rocky start. The launch took place on November 14, 1969, just months after the Apollo 11 mission. The weather was gloomy, with rain during the launch. During launch, the craft would see winds in excess of 150MPH, something not seen before or since.

Although there were no proper thunderstorms in the vicinity, Apollo 12 was struck by lightning not once, but twice. The static discharge from the rocket itself triggered two separate flashes. The first occurred 36 seconds after launch and knocked all three fuel cells offline. The second occurred at 52 seconds and knocked out the attitude indicator. After a very confusing few seconds, Mission Control made a call to try a specific, obscure switch that Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean remembered and flipped. This brought the fuel cells back online and mission control was able to see what was happening with the rocket again. No other problems arose from the strikes, but the astronauts spent more time in Earth orbit before heading to the moon to check out the craft. One can only imagine what might have happened if Alan Bean hadn’t remembered exactly where that obscure switch was.

STS-1: NASA’s space shuttle program was eagerly awaited in the spring of 1981. It had been a decade since NASA had sent astronauts into orbit, and the space shuttle was to be the first reusable space vehicle ever. The first mission, called STS (space transport system) 1 launched on April 12, 1981 with astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen on board. STS-1 was designed only as a test mission intended to iron out any bugs with the shuttle before clearing it for longer missions in space. However, the shuttle program nearly came to an abrupt halt, as the problems began shortly after takeoff.

The shuttle was the first American manned rocket to use significant amounts of solid fuel to reach orbit. These two solid rocket boosters caused major problems during the launch, as the shock wave they generated was four times stronger than expected. The pressure wave damaged the heat shield when it caused a strut on the exterior of the shuttle to fail, damaging the tiles that covered the underside of the shuttle. It also forced a part called the flap of the orbiter’s body to bend far beyond what should have caused irreparable damage. With this part damaged, a controlled re-entry would have been impossible. In 2006, James Oberg called John Young back telling him that had the crew known of this potential failure, he likely would have ejected, losing the shuttle on its first mission. Fortunately, the parts remained intact although they went far beyond what they were designed for, and Columbia continued to fly the first 4 missions. Ultimately, the shuttle would be lost in 2003 during re-entry due to much more severe tile damage than during its first mission.

Space is a dangerous place, but humans have always had a knack for heading into the dangerous out of sheer curiosity.

Have a great week and, as always, look up to the sky!

MAHIA PENINSULA, New Zealand–(BUSINESS WIRE)–February 23, 2022–

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB ) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch and space systems, today announced the completion of its second orbital launch pad at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand – the third platform Company launch for its Electron rocket – and confirmed that the new pad’s first mission will be a dedicated commercial launch that is expected to lift off within a week.

This press release is multimedia. See the full version here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223005596/en/

Rocket Lab 1 Launch Complex (Photo: Business Wire)

Pad B is based at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, the world’s first private orbital launch site, located in Mahia, New Zealand. The new platform is Rocket Lab’s third for the company’s Electron launch vehicle and joins the existing A-platform at Launch Complex 1 and a third launch pad at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, USA. United. With two operational platforms within the same launch complex, Rocket Lab doubles the launch capacity of its Electron launcher.

Launch Complex 1 Pad B will support the upcoming launch of an Electron mission dedicated to Japanese Earth imaging company Synspective. Liftoff is currently scheduled no earlier than February 28 UTC / March 1 NZT. Full details on the mission can be found here: www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

With two launch pads and private range assets at Launch Complex 1, simultaneous launch campaigns are now possible from the site. This enables resilient access to space by accommodating custom customer requirements or late spacecraft modifications while adhering to Rocket Lab’s manifesto schedule. Using two pads also eliminates pad recycling time, ensuring that a launchpad is always available for a quick-response mission. Launched from a private launch complex, Rocket Lab is also able to avoid the high scope fees and overhead typically associated with shared launch sites, resulting in a cost-effective launch service for operators. of satellites.

Rocket Lab Founder and CEO Peter Beck says, “A reliable launch vehicle is only part of the puzzle for unlocking access to space – operating multiple launch sites so we can launch when and where our customers need it is another crucial factor. We pride ourselves on providing responsive access to space for our customers, making back-to-back missions possible in hours or days, not weeks or months.

“Even with just one pad at Launch Complex 1, Electron quickly became the second most frequently launched US rocket each year. Now, with two pads at Launch Complex 1 and a third in Virginia, imagine what three pads on two continents can do for schedule control, flexibility, and rapid response for satellite operators worldwide.

More than 50 local construction workers and contractors participated in the development of Launch Complex 1 Pad B, which includes a 66-tonne launch pad and a 7.6-tonne reinforcement suitable for the Electron launcher. With Pad B operational, multiple roles are now available at Launch Complex 1 to support Rocket Lab’s increased launch cadence.

Rocket Lab – Launch Vice President Shaun D’Mello says, “With the Pad B, we kept things efficient. Its systems and layout replicate Pad A and share much of Pad A’s infrastructure, including the Electron Vehicle Integration Hangar, the track to the pad, and our own range control facility. Thanks to this, we were able to double our operational capacity – all on a concrete surface smaller than the average tennis court. I’m extremely proud of what the team has accomplished: building and bringing a second pad live, while continuing to maintain and operate pad A for our Electron launches to date, and in the midst of a global pandemic nothing less.

About Launch Complex 1

Located on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula, Launch Complex 1 is the world’s first and only private orbital launch site. As the launch site for Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, Launch Complex 1 has supported the successful delivery of more than 100 satellites into space across a range of missions for environmental and marine monitoring, Earth observation , science and research, internet connectivity, technology research and development. , and national security.

An FAA-licensed spaceport, Launch Complex 1 is capable of supporting up to 120 launch opportunities each year. From the site, it is possible to achieve orbital inclinations ranging from sun-synchronous to 30 degrees, allowing a wide range of inclinations to serve the majority of the satellite industry’s missions in low Earth orbit.

Located in Launch Complex 1 are Rocket Lab’s private range control facilities, three satellite clean rooms, a launcher assembly hangar that can process multiple electrons for launch at a time, and administrative offices. Operating a private orbital launch site alongside its own lineup and mission control centers allows Rocket Lab to reduce overhead per mission, resulting in cost-effective launch service for operators of satellites.

Rocket Lab Images and video for download

www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/link-to-rocket-lab-imagery-and-video/

About Rocket Lab

Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We provide reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft and in-orbit management solutions that make getting to space faster, easier and more affordable. Based in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the small Electron orbital launch vehicle and Photon satellite platform and develops the 8-ton Neutron payload-class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket each year and has delivered 109 satellites into orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling national security, scientific research and space debris mitigation. , Earth observation, climate monitoring and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site in New Zealand, and a second launch site in Virginia, United States, which is expected to become operational. in 2022. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. , as amended. . These forward-looking statements are based on Rocket Lab’s current expectations and beliefs regarding future developments and their potential effects. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rocket Lab’s control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. prospective. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including risks related to the global COVID-19 pandemic; risks relating to government restrictions and lockdowns in New Zealand and other countries in which we operate that could delay or suspend our operations; delays and disruptions in expansion efforts; our reliance on a limited number of customers; the harsh and unpredictable space environment in which our products operate, which could adversely affect our launch vehicle and spacecraft; increased congestion due to the proliferation of constellations in low Earth orbit which could significantly increase the risk of potential collision with space debris or other spacecraft and limit or impede our launch flexibility and/or access to our own orbital slots ; increased competition in our industry due in part to rapid technological development and falling costs; technological changes in our industry that we may not be able to keep up with or that could make our services uncompetitive; evolution of average selling prices; the failure of our launch vehicles, satellites and components to perform as intended, either due to our design error in production or through no fault of ours; disruptions to the launch schedule; supply chain disruptions, product delays or failures; design and engineering flaws; launch failures; natural disasters and epidemics or pandemics; changes in government regulations, including with respect to trade and export restrictions, or in the status of our regulatory approvals or applications; or other events that require us to cancel or reschedule launches, including customers’ contractual rescheduling and termination rights; the risks that acquisitions will not be completed on time or at all or that they will not achieve the expected benefits and results; and other risks detailed from time to time in Rocket Lab’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in the prospectus dated October 7, 2021 relating to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-259757), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) on October 7, 2021 and elsewhere (including that impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate the risks are discussed there). There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Rocket Lab will be those anticipated by us. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Show source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223005596/en/

CONTACT: Rocket Lab Media Contact

Murielle Boulanger

[email protected]

+64 27 538 9040

KEYWORD: AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA NEW ZEALAND UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

SOURCE: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

Copyright BusinessWire 2022.

PUBLISHED: 02/23/2022 08:00 AM / DISK: 02/23/2022 08:02 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223005596/en

In this week’s briefcase, Endeavor Group buys the Empire Hotel in Kilburn, KI Spirits launches its new distillery and Maggie Beer Holdings reports half-year profit of $5.5 million.

Endeavor Group acquires Empire Hotel

The Empire Hotel in Kilburn has been bought by ASX-listed Endeavor Group for $11.5 million.

Sold through an off-market EOI process, JLL Hotels says the freehold pub has attracted bids from local publicans and several interstate hotel groups looking for a first asset in Adelaide’s growing hotel market.

The Prospect Rd Hotel is approximately 7km north of Adelaide CBD, sits on a 7604m² block and has 33 gaming machines, a bar, bistro and bottle shop driving.

Endeavor Group, formerly ALH Group, spun off from Woolworths Group last June in one of the biggest splits in Australian history, creating a company with a market capitalization of over $10 billion.

The group also includes well-known liquor retailers Dan Murphy’s and BWS.

Other national hotel groups such as Black Rhino and Australian Venue Co have purchased South African pubs in the past two years.

JLL says interstate investors continue to identify value in the SA market following changes to gaming laws.

“Real value has been identified in the South Australian hotel market, where recent legislative changes and a stable business environment, less disrupted by COVID, have caught the eye of interstate capital alongside a group of parties tightly held local stakeholders,” said John, Managing Director of JLL Hotels. Musca.

Southern Launch partners with German rocket company

Leading European launch service provider Rocket Factory Augsburg has teamed up with South Australian rocket launch facility provider Southern Launch to launch its 30-meter rockets from the Eyre Peninsula.

The partnership allows the German RFA ONE launch vehicle to be launched from Southern Launch’s Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex in South Australia.

The agreement, signed this month, will allow RFA to provide flexible, inexpensive and precise launch services with its RFA ONE from a regional spaceport in the Asia-Pacific region.

RFA ONE is a small three-stage rocket with a highly efficient staged combustion engine and an orbital stage capable of carrying up to 1,350 kg to a 300 km polar orbit.

The rocket is 30 meters high and 2 meters wide and is expected to be launched up to fifty times a year in the future, delivering satellites into near-Earth orbit quickly and reliably at a very competitive price.

The first engagement between RFA and Southern Launch took place at the International Astronautical Congress in Washington in 2019, and the parties are now very pleased to have finalized and signed a Launch Services Agreement at the Global Space Convention. space and technology in Singapore.

RFA Chief Commercial Officer Jörn Spurmann says launching from South Australia enables it to offer launch services in the Asia-Pacific region and marks a central step in its distributed launch capability strategy to the global scale.

“With various launch sites around the world, we minimize logistics and time constraints for our customers and lay the foundations for the infrastructure for a weekly launch cadence,” he said.

“Southern Launch offers a comprehensive and competitive service to launch our rockets. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner.

KI Spirits launches a new distillery

Kangaroo Island Spirits has officially opened its new cellar door and $3.5 million production facility in Cygnet River.

The facility includes the installation of a 1,800 liter steam still which will see the Kangaroo Island site produce up to 3,000 liters of gin per week, as well as a 4,500 liter whiskey still. This will produce 1,200 liters of spirits each week, making Kangaroo Island Spirits the largest whiskey distillery in South Australia.

The project received a $500,000 grant from the SA Tourism Commission.

The distillery was started by Jon and Sarah Lark on the island in 2006 but was sold to listed company Mighty Craft in 2020.

The company also owns the SA brands 78 Degrees, Mismatch Brewing and Hills Cider.

Mighty Craft managing director Mark Haysman said the new facility and cellar door at Kangaroo Island Spirits heralds a new chapter in the distillery’s 16-year history and will attract tourists and business opportunities at Kangaroo Island.

“With the addition of a range of exciting and immersive tasting experiences and a new Spirits Academy on the island, our vision is to attract additional visitors, take part in a wider range of events, to create new jobs for the inhabitants and to increase our capacity for innovation. and excellence,” he said.

“Thanks to the support of the South African government, Kangaroo Island Distillery is now poised to become one of Australia’s most iconic experiential distilleries, attracting worldwide attention and visitation and contributing to the economy. at large.”

The branding and packaging of KIS products has also been overhauled, including the addition of “Est 2006” to each label to acknowledge its claim to be Australia’s first dedicated gin distillery.

Increased Maggie Beer Profits

Publicly listed Maggie Beer Holdings reported a first-half profit of $5.5 million following a huge spike in sales.

The company which includes SA Maggie Beer, Paris Creek Farms, Melbourne-based St David Dairy and recently acquired Hampers and Gifts Australia brands increased sales 133% to $64.5 million for the half year compared to the half year ending December 31, 2020.

The group’s large e-commerce business accounted for almost 60% of total net sales for the half due to an increase in online trading over the Christmas period for its Maggie Beer Products and HGA divisions.

MBH CEO and Managing Director, Chantale Millard, said half had seen the integration of the HGA business into the group successfully and on schedule, allowing the company to diversify its revenue and gross margin between e-commerce, grocery retail and restaurant.

“As a group, we have strategically invested in continuing to grow our sales and market share and invested in ensuring our e-commerce customers have a great online experience and fast deliveries over Christmas,” said she declared.

The company was listed as a technology company in 2004 and entered the food and beverage sector in 2016 when it bought a 48% stake in Maggie Beer Products.

It takes over the biodynamic dairy company SA B.-d. Farm Paris Creek in 2017 and Saint David Dairy in Melbourne in 2018 before acquiring the remaining 52% of Maggie Beer in 2019 and changing its name from Longtable Group to Maggie Beer Holdings last year to better reflect its core brand.

Barossa Valley foodie icon Maggie Beer remains involved with the company as a non-executive director and brand ambassador.

Beer’s career in the food industry spans more than 40 years, starting as a farmer at Pheasant Farm in the Barossa in 1979, which led to a farm shop and soon after a acclaimed restaurant. national, followed by a commercial food production company, Maggie Beer Products.

SA Telstra Business Award winners announced

Six South Australian companies have been honored at the Telstra Best of Business Awards 2022, which celebrates small and medium-sized businesses.

House Inspect Australia won the Accelerating Women Award.

While operating as a one-stop home inspection business known for its customer-focused results in building and pest inspections, House Inspect Australia has focused on the gender gap and been a champion for women in the industries in which they operate.

The Australian Native Food Co. won the Building Communities award.

Australian Native Food Co. sources its products from local suppliers only, with profits made from this venture being invested back into the community through literacy and numeracy programs.

Adelaide-based company Big Shed Brewing won the Promoting Sustainability award.

Founded by home brewers Craig Basford and Jason Harris as a passion project in 2006, Big Shed Brewing has grown into a well-known and thriving craft brewery with a bar and restaurant in Royal Park.

Container Deposit Systems won the Embracing Innovation award.

By using technology to build a revolutionary, semi-automated system, Container Deposit Systems is helping to increase productivity at recycling deposit facilities, enabling 75,000 Australians to return 20 million containers for recycling per week to avoid ending up in the landfill.

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The Championing Health Award went to Clinic Mastery, a commercial training company for allied health professionals.

Michael Ackland, director of the Telstra Consumer and Small Business Group, said the SA winners of the 2022 Telstra Best of Business Awards were outstanding examples of small and medium-sized businesses whose ingenuity and resilience have led them to thrive in these difficult times. .

“Every business is an inspiration in their own right, and it’s a privilege to be able to celebrate the incredible impact these winners have had on the customers and communities they serve,” he said.

STARBASE, United States: Elon Musk provided an update on SpaceX’s efforts to develop its Starship interplanetary rocket on Thursday evening, but refrained from announcing a firm launch date for an orbital test or new missions, despite considerable buildup ahead of the rare presentation.

Speaking to an audience at the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, South Texas, the tycoon simply said, “I’m very confident at this point that we’ll get to orbit this year,” while hinting at a potential pivot to launch from Florida if the company encounters regulatory hurdles.

Musk spoke against the impressive backdrop of the spacecraft in its fully stacked configuration, 120 meters (394 feet) high, with a matte black upper stage atop a shimmering silver Super Heavy first stage rocket.

Together they form the largest spacecraft ever built: larger than even the Saturn V rockets that took astronauts to the Moon in the Apollo era.

Made of stainless steel and designed to be fully reusable, Starship is also intended to be the most powerful rocket in the world and will be capable of lifting up to 100 metric tons into Earth orbit.

SpaceX envisions the ship carrying crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond, and last year NASA awarded the company a contract for a version of Starship to ferry astronauts for the Artemis program from the Moon. lunar orbit on the surface.

$10 million launches?

In his first detailed progress report on the project since 2019, Musk recapped his ultimate vision for colonizing Mars as “life insurance” in the event of disaster on Earth, and as the first step to expanding Mars’ footprint. humanity beyond the solar system.

The speech was peppered with dry humor, like his “sales pitch” for Mars: “It’s going to be cramped, dangerous, difficult, very harsh word, you could die”, although he hopes to eventually terraform the planet Red.

Musk also included a few updates for fans, like an illustration of how one spacecraft would be sent to refuel another on deep space travel, and the advantage of thrust and the neater design. of the latest generation of Raptor engines compared to the first iteration.

Each Starship booster is expected to have 33 Raptors, and a bottleneck in production is expected to ease in the coming weeks, with up to one engine manufactured per day by next month, Musk said.

He also revealed that within a few years the launch cost could be as low as $10 million, a price that could revolutionize the industry by making rockets attractive for commercial transport.

A flight to Singapore from the United States takes 20 hours “whereas in a rocket it would take less than an hour. So about 45 minutes or thereabouts.

Starship’s upper stage has already made several suborbital flights. After multiple tests that ended in impressive explosions, SpaceX finally managed to land the spacecraft last May.

Possible pivot to Florida

But a much more ambitious orbital test awaits environmental impact clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said in a December statement that it would submit a report by February 28.

Musk said that while he was optimistic about the approval, he was ready to move launch operations to the company’s launch site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, if successful.

Former deep-sea oil rigs the company has acquired to convert into rocket and land launch sites could also come into play, he added.

Beyond exploration missions, Starship’s huge payload capacity could also be a boon for astronomers looking to place larger telescopes in space, while the US military has given SpaceX a contract five years to demonstrate its ability to transport cargo around the world in an ultra-fast way. time.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has hired Starship for a trip around the moon with a team of artists, and Musk hinted that there will soon be “future announcements that I think people will be pretty excited about,” without saying disclose more.

BOCA CHICA, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/CNN) – Billionaire CEO Jared Isaacman is buying three more flights with SpaceX, the first of which is slated for this year and could put Isaacman and SpaceX on track to travel deeper into space than any human has traveled in half a century.

The first flight in the series of missions, called “Polaris” after the North Star, will last up to five days and include a crew of Isaacman and three others. The crew will perform a spacewalk, a first for anyone traveling aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Isaacman made the announcement on NBC’s Today Show Monday morning and in an interview with The Washington Post.

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Isaacman, who gained international attention when he purchased SpaceX’s first all-touring flight dubbed “Inspiration 4,” said the first Dragon mission will be followed by a second Dragon mission shortly thereafter. These two missions will pave the way for the first-ever crewed mission on SpaceX’s next Starship rocket, the one Elon Musk hopes to one day carry to Mars. Isaacman didn’t share many details about those plans, except that during this series of missions he plans to travel to “deep space” – which is generally defined as areas of outer space. located on or beyond the moon.

It’s unclear if all of this will go as planned, nor has SpaceX said if it will need to perform additional testing before Isaacman can make his deep space trip. SpaceX also did not address any updates Crew Dragon will need to complete the mission safely. So far, the spacecraft has only carried astronauts on trips to low Earth orbit, or the area of ​​space directly surrounding Earth. The Inspiration 4 mission marked Crew Dragon’s highest flight so far, at an altitude of around 360 miles, and Monday’s announcement said the Polaris missions will go further than that.

It is unknown how much these missions will cost Isaacman. He also didn’t reveal how much he paid for the Inspiration 4 mission last year, though he said he paid less than $200 million.

The entire Inspiration 4 mission was billed as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and raised a total of $243 million for the cause. Isaacman donated about $100 million, Musk invested another $50 million, and the rest was raised through public donations. Polaris missions should also support the same cause.

On the first Polaris mission, Isaacman will be joined by veteran Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, SpaceX operations engineer Sarah Gillis and SpaceX engineer Anna Menon, who will serve as an onboard medic. Isaacman will be the only crew member with previous spaceflight experience.

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Spatialship

The timing of Isaacman’s ship flight is not entirely clear. During a Starship presentation in Texas last week, Musk said while he was hopeful the vehicle – which has so far only performed brief suborbital “jump tests” – would make its first flight test orbital this year, unmanned. That, however, could hinge on whether federal regulators give SpaceX approval to launch Starship out of South Texas, where the company has already set up an orbital launch pad and where the vast majority are located. Starship resources.

This could mean Isaacman surpasses the first billionaire who bought a Starship mission – Japanese fashion mogul Yusaku Maezawa. Maezawa paid SpaceX an undisclosed sum of money to secure a spot for himself and a group of performers on a Starship trip around the moon, hoping it could lift off as soon as 2023. Maezawa is still deciding who he’s going to take with him.

Musk also said during the presentation that he hopes Starship will cost less than $10 million per flight within a few years, which, if available, would be much cheaper than any other rocket on the market.

The ship is expected to be far more powerful than any rocket ever built by mankind. Musk said he would have twice the thrust of the Saturn V rockets that powered the moon landings of the last century.

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