Rocket Lab once again forced to push back launch
Saturday, 20 January 2018
Rocket Lab is once again pushing back the launch of its second Electron test rocket.
The team called off the day's launch just before 6pm. Delays came about after a vessel entered the launch area, forcing Rocket Lab to abort that attempt, and the weather began to turn.
Scrubbed for the day.
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) January 20, 2018
The #StillTesting launch window opens again tomorrow 14:30 NZDT (17:30 PT/ 20:30 ET / 1:30 UTC). We'll provide updates on a new NET time when available.
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) January 20, 2018
The team attempted to launch six times on Saturday.
Rocket Lab will try to launch again on Sunday.
**READ MORE:
* Rocket Lab to try second test launch again from January 20
* Rocket Lab aims for new year after third launch delay in a week
* Rocket Lab cans launch, two seconds from lift-off**
Rocket Lab tried to launch the rocket, named 'Still Testing', from the Māhia Peninsula before Christmas last year, but strong wind high in the atmosphere, a power fault, and too much liquid oxygen feeding into the rocket's engine obstructed multiple launch attempts.
Staff released weather balloons on Saturday morning, and the data from them would inform whether a launch attempt will be made and at what time. Its window of opportunity is between 2.30pm and 6.30pm.
For the 17-metre-long carbon-fibre rocket to launch successfully, 30,000 data points from sensors on the rocket needed to align, and weather conditions had to be perfect.
If successful, the 'Still Testing' rocket will carry three satellites into space and release them into orbit. It is the first attempt to do so from New Zealand.
Electron is vertical on the pad at Launch Complex-1. #StillTesting pic.twitter.com/yZWm4Cwvnd
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) January 19, 2018
One of the satellites will take images of the earth for United States company Planet Labs. The other two will capture weather and ship tracking data for Spire Global.
Rocket Lab plans to hold three test rocket launches before it operates commercially to carry satellites into orbit frequently, at a cost significantly lower than its competitors.
Its first test rocket in May last year saw lift-off, although it failed to reach orbit.
If Saturday's launch is scrubbed, further launch attempts will be made daily between 2.30pm and 6.30pm until January 28.
Launch attempts will be live streamed 20 minutes before an expected lift-off time.
How does it all work?
- Who will push the ignition switch?
There is no physical ignition switch for the launch. Once the order to commence auto-sequence is given the on-board systems will initiate launch.
- How much fuel will be used?
The fuel used for the entirety of the flight is equal to the amount of fuel required for a flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles. However, the Electron will travel significantly further than this distance.