The founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, Peter Beck, published a video on his social network,
The descent of the first stage of the launch vehicle "Electron". Video: Peter Beck
The video was filmed with cameras mounted onlaunch vehicle on its way to splashdown after successfully launching satellites into low Earth orbit. Beck notes that, unlike SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle, Electron does not use thrusters to create a shield against hot plasma. The entire load to protect against the flow of incandescent particles, the temperature of which can reach 2,400 ° C, is taken over by a heat shield.
In fact, the most difficult thing here is to managerocket during the initial stages of re-entry so that its heat shield fires first. If a stage rolls over on its side during peak heat, it will simply rip apart in the blink of an eye.
Peter Beck, RocketLab CEO
The Elektron launch vehicle was developed by a privateAmerican company Rocket Lab. It is used to launch a payload of up to 200 kg into a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit or up to 300 kg into low Earth orbit. The launch vehicle consists of two stages. The first launch took place back in 2017, but the company continues to modify Electron to ensure the reuse of the first stage.
During the last test after a shortflight into space and a perfect splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, the first stage of the Electron was picked up and sent to the plant for analysis. The researchers plan to test the integrity of the components and their reusability to reduce flight costs.
The first stage of the Elektron launch vehicle, raised after a successful splashdown. Photo: Rocket Lab
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On the cover: the launch of the Elektron launch vehicle. Photo: Rocket Lab