Rocket Lab is a David among Goliaths in the space race

Rocket Lab is a relatively small player in a launcher marketplace dominated by governments and billionaires. However, despite some notable anomalies, the company is starting 2024 with a packed schedule and grand plans for the future. Boss Peter Beck is unfazed by his rivals. He tells The Register: "Rocket Lab is probably one …

[Flocke Kroes]

Which rocket?

"Well, we didn't explode the largest rocket ever created in a national reserve."

IFT1 blew up over the ocean as did stage 1 of IFT2. IFT2 stage 2 blew up in space. SLS has not blown up yet. Various Starship test articles have blown up but they were at most only first or second stages - smaller than a Saturn V. Saturn V did not blow up. The Russians had some big explosions but I am not convinced they were in a national reserve. That would leave rockets that pre-date Saturn V. There were plenty of explosions back then and all the big US launch sites are in nature reserves. I am sure at least one qualifies but I have no idea which.

(Really looking forward RockLab flying the same rocket twice.)

[Dave 126]

Re: Which rocket?

And similarly, his digs at SpaceX for not being beholden to any shareholders to make money was a bit odd... I know of some very successful and profitable engineering companies that have never been publicly traded, and run by their engineer founder over decades. Their success has been in part because they have been able to make technically informed strategic decisions and investments in R&D.

I'm not saying that being focused on a valid business model isn't a good thing, but it's just odd for him to suggest that satisfying shareholders' desire for a (potentially short term) return on their investments is the only viable model when clear counterexamples exist.

[yet another bruce]

Re: Which rocket?

Sometimes people like to describe the workings of a rocket motor as controlled explosion. I understand some aspects of the IFT1 launch were not as well controlled as hoped. This was covered in the press as an explosion (in the Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area).

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) documented that the debris cloud deposited material as far as six-and-a-half miles north of the launch pad. The agency said in a statement that the debris cloud was made of pulverized concrete."

www[dot]tpr[dot]org[slash]environment[slash]2023-04-27[slash]photos-spacex-is-grounded-after-rocket-explosion-caused-extensive-environmental-damage

www[dot]bloomberg[dot]com[slash]news[slash]features[slash]2023-08-25[slash]elon-musk-s-spacex-explosion-left-major-debris-after-starship-rocket-launch

[Flocke Kroes]

Re: Which rocket?

When I criticise Musk (which is quite frequently) I make an effort to get my facts right. There are so many opportunities that screening out the false and unprovable leaves plenty of material. There is a wide range of press. Much of it is slanted to attract a cross section of the market with a specific viewpoint. Even more will aim for outrage over accuracy because it sells.

The quote I was irritated by referred to the largest rocket ever created exploding in a national reserve. The full stack Starships exploded far from Boca Chica,

Press referring to the extensive and spectacular damage to the launch site as an explosion is just click bait. The site was built up using sand dredged from the river then covered in concrete that according to mathematical models was strong enough for one launch. Rocket exhaust cracked an tore up the concrete sending chunks of it beyond SpaceX property. The exhaust continued by excavating a large crater under the launch table. Sand did travel several kilometres. Several universities asked for and received samples from the locals. The samples were shown to be the same as sand from the river with particles sufficiently large that they were not a respiratory hazard.

There were thousands of comments on the internet about loads of concrete dust but I did not see any official document saying there was anything but sand. Concrete did get a mention: SpaceX were asked not to tidy up chunks of concrete to avoid disturbing nesting birds.

There are hundreds of genuinely horrible things Musk has said and done. There is no need to convince me he is an arsehole - I am already there. You are not going to convince Tesla investors because they have a financial incentive to stick there fingers in their ears and shout "La la la la la." Convincing members of the Cult of Musk is an even harder up-hill struggle. Quoting factually challenged click bait will just get anything you do get right ignored by the CoM.

[Barracoder]

Re: Which rocket?

As a Cult of Musk devotee you are quite correct in your assessment that this report will be viewed with the kind of disdain normally associated with Daily Mail crosswords and karaoke - it's a poor attempt.

It's much more fun when you try harder, Reg.

[MachDiamond]

Re: Which rocket?

"There were thousands of comments on the internet about loads of concrete dust but I did not see any official document saying there was anything but sand. Concrete did get a mention: SpaceX were asked not to tidy up chunks of concrete to avoid disturbing nesting birds."

Pulverized concrete is sand, but not the sort of stuff you find at the beach. The fine particulates being pumped into the air as also a huge health hazard. SpaceX is required to pick up off of the debris from the nature reserves, but it must be done by hand, not vehicles and machinery. Pieces that have to be broken down must be surrounded by drop cloths to prevent debris from being left behind. All of this requires permission too. The only exception is for the retrieval of things like explosives, toxic materials and batteries. Those much still be removed by hand.

"The quote I was irritated by referred to the largest rocket ever created exploding in a national reserve. The full stack Starships exploded far from Boca Chica,"

The first full stack rained down in Mexican territorial waters. The second stack fed the fish in the gulf of Mexico and a to be determined point off of the coast of Florida. SpaceX did such a hack job that they had no telemetry. If an amateur astronomer could get footage of the upper half of the second stage falling, an antenna located in the same area would have been able to receive telemetry and they would have known it went boom much sooner.

Every other test of just the upper "Starship" has blown up with the exception of SN15 and that was taken apart never flown again. If a full stack detonates at the launch site, it will be very bad for numerous endangered species.

[MachDiamond]

Re: Which rocket?

"Sometimes people like to describe the workings of a rocket motor as controlled explosion."

The workings of a rocket motor is not any sort of explosion. If it goes beyond vigorous burning, there's a fatal problem.

This is other than Orion that was supposed to be sent into space via a series of nuclear bombs dropped from the bottom and detonated.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Which rocket?

Both the vertical launch and control center areas of SpaceX's launch facility are bordered on all sides by federal and state public lands—the Boca Chica Unit of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Boca Chica State Park, and Texas General Land Office property. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages all these lands.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=14xRZ9yYRQ-LezFqKEfqfiCnRitXcm6M3&hl=en_US&ll=25.99598770192694%2C-97.15747729566179&z=14

[Oneman2Many]

Re: Which rocket?

Not sure what your point is ?

Booster and Starship both exploded over the Gulf, not part of any national park. Stage 0 did rain debries down in national park but it wasn't the rocket.

I expect more from Peter Beck, he's had great interviews with Tim Dodd and NSF amongst other. He seems like a nice guy and obviously passionate about his company and rockets in general so I wasn't expected snidey remarks from him especially ones that are facturally incorrect.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Which rocket?

There are national parks in the gulf of Mexico...

[Flocke Kroes]

Re: Nature reserves

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to John F. Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Vandenberg State Marine Reserve is adjacent to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge hosts the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

[Dagg]

Re: Which rocket?

Oceans can be national reserve and nature reserves...

[John Brown (no body)]

vertically integrated

Hah! I saw what you did there! :-)