×
Login Register an account
Top Submissions Explore Upgoat Search Random Subverse Random Post Colorize! Site Rules Donate
3

Rocket Lab Electron 2nd Stage Failed - Loss of Payload

submitted by dominus_stercae to spaceflight 4.0 yearsMay 15, 2021 13:03:09 ago (+3/-0)     (twitter.com)*

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1393531340188913665

From the live stream, it appears that the 2nd stage motor started, then stopped a couple of seconds later. If so, I'm guessing a sudden loss of power to the electric propellant pumps.

ETA: Appears to have spun hard shortly after staging.


5 comments block


[ - ] account deleted by user 2 points 4.0 yearsMay 15, 2021 13:17:36 ago (+2/-0)

account deleted by user

[ - ] lord_nougat 2 points 4.0 yearsMay 15, 2021 13:17:34 ago (+2/-0)

The turbopumps are electric?! That seems kind of retarded.

[ - ] deleted 1 point 4.0 yearsMay 15, 2021 14:14:55 ago (+1/-0)

deleted

[ - ] dominus_stercae [op] 1 point 4.0 yearsMay 16, 2021 00:16:31 ago (+1/-0)*

For small rocket motors electric pumps have a weight and simplicity advantage. However, a significant disadvantage is the reliance on batteries. Rocket Lab is the first to do this as far as I know. So time will tell if it's a net positive (no pun intended). Meanwhile, the exact cause of this malfunction is yet to be revealed.

[ - ] lord_nougat 2 points 4.0 yearsMay 16, 2021 13:27:09 ago (+2/-0)

With an engine quitting like that it SOUNDS like a fuel delivery problem; but what do I know, I'm no rocket surgeon!