NZ's first Satellite

ZeroID (Brent) · #1 25-01-2018, 04:53 AM

Launched on the Electron 'Still Testing', a 1 meter geodesic reflective ball made of carbon fibre.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/n...ectid=11981271

Plus they used a new launch ring on the rocket that can place several satellites into different orbits.

These guys are just rocketing ahead with innovation !!

skysurfer · #2 25-01-2018, 06:05 AM

What is the purpose of this mission ?

Another load of space debris ....

gregbradley · #3 25-01-2018, 06:52 AM

Great, just what we need, the brightest object in the night sky is a manmade object. Luckily it only lasts 9 months.

Light pollution in space now eh? How is that a win for humanity like the sappy article says.

Greg.

ZeroID (Brent) · #4 25-01-2018, 11:35 AM

Confess. I wasn't quite expecting that kind of response ....

It's a proof of concept and test launch, it is carbon fibre and will leave nothing behind when it finally descends. Even the rocket body, payload fairing and 2nd stage hardware is mostly carbon fire and will be burnt to nothing.

I don't think it is going to GLARE the sky to daylight, it's only 1 meter in diameter after all. The ISS is 1000's of times bigger and it hasn't ruined the night sky to my knowledge. Or not that I have noticed anyway.

Of the three cube sats launched, two were for shipping and weather monitoring and the other for landsat imaging. All were the size of a loaf of bread. All will eventually descend but the tasks they have are important and RocketLab is providing a more cost effective and eco friendly launch option than other providers.

The 'Disco Ball' is a bit of harmless fun and a test unit for the payload launch ring.

N1 (Mirko) · #5 25-01-2018, 11:48 AM

Russia, America, China, EU, India: radio satellites, space labs, spysats, space stations, moon rovers, space telescopes, planetary probes, people, animals

Nu Zuland: disco ball

Wavytone · #6 25-01-2018, 12:09 PM

Disco ball. How unimaginative.

Should at least have been a solar powered laser cannon...

OICURMT · #7 25-01-2018, 12:10 PM

Can wait to see how many images are ruined by this satellite with no useful purpose.

gary · #8 25-01-2018, 03:42 PM

Hi Brent,

Thanks for the heads-up and congratulations on Kiwi ingenuity and
determination for the successful technical achievement of developing
a commercial rocket that has proven it can place a payload in orbit.

On this side of the Tasman, where the government talks of grandiose plans for
a space agency, the millions spent on advertising the government's
innovation agenda on the side of bus stops was probably larger than
Rocket Labs entire R&D spend and all we can do is look on with
envious eyes.

At least Australian graduate aerospace engineers will not has as far to travel
for employment.

See https://www.seek.com.au/Rocket-Lab-jobs

pmrid (Peter) · #9 26-01-2018, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroID

Even the rocket body, payload fairing and 2nd stage hardware is mostly carbon fire and will be burnt to nothing.

Sure about that? In that terrific video footage we all saw, those items were certainly ejected while the rocket was still climbing and in atmosphere. They fell away gracefully and they were certainly not burning as they fell - or did my eyes deceive me>
Peter

N1 (Mirko) · #10 26-01-2018, 07:33 AM

To be fair, miniaturisation of space tech isn't altogether a bad idea and does potentially save a lot of resources and damage to the environment. So if used smartly (I'm aware that it may not), I think there are definitely some benefits to be had. And I look forward to being able to see a rocket launch with the kids without having to travel very far at all (once they establish something resembling a schedule).

ZeroID (Brent) · #11 26-01-2018, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrid

Sure about that? In that terrific video footage we all saw, those items were certainly ejected while the rocket was still climbing and in atmosphere. They fell away gracefully and they were certainly not burning as they fell - or did my eyes deceive me>
Peter

They " fell away gracefully " at 120 km altitude in the near vacuum of space at about 17,000 km per hr. They will enter the atmosphere proper at about 60km altitude at a similar speed.
There won't be anything left ....

Peter Ward · #12 26-01-2018, 12:53 PM

Happy to echo the remarks and congratulate the Kiwi's for

a) actually having a space program
b) developing their own rocket engine using innovative metal 3D printing technologies

Meanwhile back in Australia we have a bureaucracy but no program as such.

Even more amusing is a talented bunch of ex-Monash Aero-Engineering grads were poached by the Kiwi's for the program...this was a win-win for both parties.....as let's face it...there is stuff-all employment for our grads in Oz.

Very much a case of "Yes Minister's" hospital with no patients....and sadly no joke, as this farce in Australia is real.

Good on you NZ!

StuTodd · #13 26-01-2018, 08:48 PM

More trash orbiting Earth. What a superb idea, makes me so proud

Cue the "Macdonald Cosmic Burger Star", the "Star with your loved ones ashes in", "Stars of Facebook star" etc etc.

Stupid idea, mark my words, this won't be the end of space advertising.

Visionary (David) · #14 26-01-2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Happy to echo the remarks and congratulate the Kiwi's for

a) actually having a space program
b) developing their own rocket engine using innovative metal 3D printing technologies

Meanwhile back in Australia we have a bureaucracy but no program as such.

Even more amusing is a talented bunch of ex-Monash Aero-Engineering grads were poached by the Kiwi's for the program...this was a win-win for both parties.....as let's face it...there is stuff-all employment for our grads in Oz.

Very much a case of "Yes Minister's" hospital with no patients....and sadly no joke, as this farce in Australia is real.

Good on you NZ!

Yes.. and well done NZ!

skysurfer · #15 27-01-2018, 02:38 AM

Space graffiti is it called.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-star-into-sky
And they are right. Stupid waste of resources.

AndyG (Andy) · #16 27-01-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysurfer

Space graffiti is it called.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-star-into-sky
And they are right. Stupid waste of resources.

Somewhat 2nd'd... Nothing wrong with some good clean fun and bantz, but this is going to wreck some people's day (or night, to be precise).

The sad thing for us is, this new toy WILL get traction. The obvious opinion is that it's the start of something new. Astromomers (both Pro and backyarders) are the fringest of fringe minorities. We probably hold less public interest than the Flat Earthers - so kindly referenced in other threads here.

That said, good on anyone who can get useful tools into space at a good price. Congrats to such a small team using new methods also. Lets see what happens after this one falls out of the sky.

Ric · #17 27-01-2018, 01:30 PM

Congrats to the Kiwi's

More bragging rights over Australia.

ZeroID (Brent) · #18 28-01-2018, 10:01 AM

Actually it is not going to ruin your images. It will only be visible in the early evening and morning when the sun shines on it. When you are imaging it will not be visible, no sun.... just like all the other thousands of satellites up there.

rally · #19 28-01-2018, 10:06 AM

Great show of technological commercial R&D effort and as stated its pitiful that Australian commercial and political will is so lacking in true Yes Minister style.
So its a big congrats to the Kiwis

But unfortunately I also feel compelled to add - the egocentric, look at me approach of Beckett is nothing more than a hitech equivalent of an attention seeking Youtube hit - at the expense of clear skies.

I cannot see how any amateur or even professional could be joyed with the prospect of the brightest thing in the sky, that is otherwise completely useless, passing through their images.
Especially now knowing that their stated intention is to send as many into the sky as needed, so that no matter where you are on the planet these things will be visible - I just read the article and I've already forgotton the reason !

I am surprised but grateful however that they were unable to develop an unfolding version using MEMs or flexure hinges etc which would have meant they could have included 50 of them into the same volume of payload !

If every space capable nation added some of these to their payloads our night sky images will soon look like a radar screen full of WW2 jamming chaff.

Thank the lord for Winsorized Sigma clipping etc stacking algorithms !!!

I do hope that this is not a precedent and that nor will it continue.

StuTodd · #20 28-01-2018, 10:36 AM

Yes, the ego trip which could well open the flood gates to more of this pointless space junk being sent into skies.