Electron (rocket)

Electron is a two-stage (sometimes three-stage) partially recoverable orbital launch vehicle developed by Rocket Lab, an American aerospace company founded in New Zealand with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary.[14][15] Electron was developed to service the commercial small satellite launch market.[16] Its Rutherford engines are the first electric-pump-fed engine to power an orbital-class rocket.[17] Although the rocket is designed to be expendable, Rocket Lab considers adding capabilities to reuse the first stage of Electron and has demonstrated a capability to recover the booster.[18]

Electron
Graphic depiction of Electron in Launch Configuration
FunctionSmall-lift orbital launch vehicle
ManufacturerRocket Lab
Country of originNew Zealand [1]
United States [2][3][4]
Project costUS$100 million [5]
Cost per launchAbout US$7.5 million [6][7]
Size
Height17 m (56 ft)[8]
Diameter1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)[8]
Mass12,500 kg (27,600 lb)[9]
Stages2–3 [8][10]
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass
  • Original: 225 kg (496 lb)[11]
  • Updated: 300 kg (660 lb)[11]
Payload to SSO
Mass
  • Original: 150 kg (330 lb)[11]
  • Updated: 200 kg (440 lb)[11]
Associated rockets
ComparableShavit, Kaituozhe-1, Unha, Prime, Miura 5
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sites
Total launches17
Success(es)15
Failure(s)2
First flight25 May 2017
Last flight15 December 2020
First stage
Length12.1 m (40 ft)
Diameter1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)[8]
Engines9 × Rutherford[8]
ThrustSea level: 225 kN (51,000 lbf)[8]
Vacuum: 234 kN (53,000 lbf)
Specific impulse311 s (3.05 km/s)[8]
FuelRP-1/LOX[8]
Second stage
Length2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Diameter1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)[8]
Engines1 × Rutherford[8]
ThrustVacuum: 26 kN (5,800 lbf)[8]
Specific impulse343 s (3.36 km/s)[8]
FuelRP-1/LOX[8]
Kick stage (optional)
Engines1 × Curie[10]
ThrustVacuum: 0.12 kN (27 lbf)[10]
FuelViscous liquid monopropellant (AP, Al,Polydimethylsiloxane)
Kick stage (optional) – Photon
Engines1 × hyperCurie[13]
ThrustVacuum: unspecified
Fuelunspecified hypergolic bi-propellant

In December 2016, Electron completed flight qualification. The first rocket was launched on 25 May 2017,[19] reaching space but not achieving orbit due to a glitch in communication equipment on the ground.[20] During its second flight on 21 January 2018, Electron reached orbit and deployed three CubeSats.[21] The first commercial launch of Electron, and the third launch overall, occurred on 11 November 2018.[22]

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.[23]

Both stages use the Rutherford rocket engine, the first electric-pump-fed engine to power an orbital rocket.[17] The electric pumps are powered by lithium-polymer batteries. The second stage uses three batteries which are "hot swapped", two of the batteries are jettisoned once depleted to shed mass.[24] There are nine Rutherford engines on the first stage and one vacuum-optimized version on the second stage.[25][26][27] 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.[17][23]

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" bipropellant, and is 3D printed. It was first used during Electron's second flight.[28] The "kick" stage can transport up to 150 kg (330 lb) of payload.[29]

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

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 a new robotic manufacturing capability onine 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.[31][32]

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.[31]

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.[33] Electron was not originally designed to be a reusable launch vehicle as it is a small-lift launch vehicle but was pursued due to increased understanding of Electron's performance based on analysis of previous flights though sensors on the vehicle. In addition, reusability was pursued to meet launch demands.[34][35] To counteract decreased payload capacity caused by recovery technology, performance improvements to Electrons are expected.[35]

Early phases of recovery included data gathering and surviving atmospheric reentry also known as "The Wall".[33][36] 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.[37] Rocket Lab has not released information on aerodynamic decelerator that would be required to slow down the booster after atmospheric reentry.[34] 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.[33][38]

Aerothermal decelerator

Rocket Lab, while investigating reusability, decided that they will not pursue propulsive recovery like SpaceX. Instead they will use the atmosphere to slow down the booster in what's known as "aerothermal decelerator" technology. The exact methods used are proprietary but may include keeping proper orientation when reentering the atmosphere and other technologies.[36][39]

Vehicle modification history

The Electron initially had a payload capacity of 150 to 225 kg (331 to 496 lb) to a 500 km (310 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit.[8][40]

In pursuit of reusability, Rocket Lab has made changes to 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.[33][37]

Flight 10 ("Running out of 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.[41][42] 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.[36][43] 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.[36][44] Rocket Lab had no plans to recover the stage and instead wanted to demonstrate the ability to successfully reenter.[43] Flight 11 ("Birds of a Feather") demonstrated similar success.[45][46] No further atmospheric reentry tests similar to flight 10 and 11 are expected.[47]

Following Flight 11 ("Birds of a Feather"), 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 (4,900 ft) demonstrating a successful retrieval. Following the catch the test article was brought back to land.[47][48]

Flight 16 ("Return to Sender"), was the first to recover the first stage booster, with a splashdown into the Pacific Ocean.[48][49] The rocket also lofted thirty payloads into Sun-synchronous orbit, including a titanium mass simulator in the shape of the garden gnome "Gnome Chompski" from the video game Half-Life 2. [50][51]

In August 2020, Rocket Lab announced increased payload of Electron to 225 to 300 kg (496 to 661 lb). The payload capacity increase was mainly due to battery advancements. The increased payload capacity allows offset of mass added by recovery technology. In addition, more payload mass could be flown on interplanetary missions and others when Electron is expended.[52] Rocket Lab also announced expanded fairings with a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) diameter, larger than the standard 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) long and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in diameter fairings.[53][54]

Use

Electron is designed to launch a 200 to 300 kg (440 to 660 lb) payload to a 500 km (310 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit, suitable for CubeSats and other small payloads.[11] In October 2018, Rocket Lab opened a factory large enough to produce more than 50 rockets per year according to the company.[55] 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.[56] The starting price for delivering payloads to orbit is about US$7.5 million per launch, which offers the only dedicated service at this price point.[6][7]

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).[57] None of the contenders met the prize deadline, and the competition was closed without a winner.[58] 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.[59]

Launch sites
Main article: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1
Main article: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0 § Launch Complex-2
The Mahia launch site under construction in 2016

The rocket is launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.[23] The launch pad's remote and sparsely populated location is intended to enable a high frequency of launches.[23] 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).[23][40]

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 first quarter of 2021.[60][61] Launch Complex 2 is expected to serve government customers.[62]

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.[63] The location would be named Sutherland spaceport.[64]

Launch history
Main article: List of Electron rocket launches
A National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload was successfully launched aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex-1

The Electron has flown 18 times since May 2017. There have been 16 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.[65][66] In August 2019, a mission named "Look Ma, No Hands" successfully delivered four satellites to orbit,[67] 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.[68] In July 2020, an Electron rocket failed with customer payloads onboard, the first failure after the maiden flight.[69]

Notable launches
  • "Still Testing", Electron's first successful launch[70]
  • NROL-151, "Birds of a Feather", Electron's first NRO-sponsored launch[72]
  • "Return to Sender", Electron's first ocean recovery of the first stage[73]

Launch statistics

See also

References
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