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The US supplier of orbital launchers, Rocket Lab, today confirmed the construction of its first US launch platform for the Electron rocket at NASA's Wallops flight facility in Virginia, United States. The site will be Rocket Lab's second dedicated launch complex and will leverage its existing capacity to launch up to 120 times a year from the world's only private launch site, Rocket Lab. Launch Complex 1, in New Zealand.
Launch Complex 2 will be able to support monthly orbital launches and is designed to serve US government missions and trade missions. The site offers more than 130 missions per year worldwide availability of Rocket Lab launches in two launch complexes. The ability to choose from two launch sites adds an extra layer of flexibility to small satellite customers, providing unparalleled ability to quickly deploy space assets with confidence and precision from a preferred location.
"Access to the space must be simple, transparent and adapted to the missions of our customers, from the idea to the orbit. The launch from a second platform strengthens Rocket Lab's ability to offer the small satellite sector unparalleled planning and location flexibility, "said Rocket Lab founder. CEO Peter Beck.
"After proving that the Electron vehicle was launched successfully this year, we are excited to expand our ability to provide fast, reliable and affordable in-orbit access for small satellites.
"We worked closely with the experienced and welcoming teams at Virginia Space and Wallops Regional Midport to design a platform and processes that will enable an agile and streamlined approach to launching small satellites on US soil," he said. -he adds.
Rocket Lab will work with Virginia Space to build on the site a dedicated protection infrastructure, adapted to the Electron launcher. In addition to the platform, Rocket Lab will develop a launch vehicle integration and assembly facility in the Wallops Research Park to support the simultaneous integration of up to four Electron vehicles.
The installation will also include a control room connected to LC-2, as well as facilities reserved for customers. This new facility, combined with the specially constructed LC-2 gantry crane, will provide significant and dedicated vehicle processing capability, as well as the flexibility to meet Rocket Lab's high launch rate.
Through construction and day-to-day operations, Rocket Lab plans to create approximately 30 jobs immediately to directly support Launch Complex 2, with the number rising to approximately 100 as the launch frequency increases. The development of Launch Complex 2 will also allow Rocket Lab to continue to develop its Electron rocket production at the company's headquarters in Huntington Beach, California, to provide full launchers to its government and commercial customers.
"We are honored to have been selected by Rocket Lab for Launch Complex 2," said Dale Nash, CEO and Executive Director of Virginia Space. "There is an incredible synergy between Virginia Space and Rocket Lab and we are proud to support their missions from the US We want to thank Rocket Lab for the trust they have placed in our team. of MARS are ready to do this, all we can to ensure successful, safe and timely launch missions for Rocket Lab, as for all Spaceport customers. "
Bill Wrobel, director of NASA Wallops, said: "Wallops has over 70 years of experience in supporting missions using suborbital or small and medium-sized orbital launchers and we look forward to working with our partner Virginia Space and its Atlantic Regional Spaceport, which supports Rocket Lab's Electron missions and extends its commercial launch operations from Wallops. "
Four space parks have been identified as Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, including Cape Canaveral, Wallops Flight Base, Alaska Pacific Coral Space Complex and Vandenberg Air Force Base. Wallops Flight Facility proceeded to the last cut thanks to the high frequency of flight available on the site, as well as the speed of the construction that will allow Rocket Lab to launch the first launch of Electron from the 3rd quarter of 2019 to United States.
Rocket Lab continues to evaluate other launch sites in the US and around the world to provide greater launch flexibility for small satellite customers. The company has also entered into agreements with Cape Canaveral, Florida, and the Pacific Space Complex Complex, Alaska, to launch from existing platforms as required.
Related Links
Rocket Lab
Rocket Science News on Space-Travel.Com
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