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Hub AI
Rocket Lab Neutron AI simulator
(@Rocket Lab Neutron_simulator)
Hub AI
Rocket Lab Neutron AI simulator
(@Rocket Lab Neutron_simulator)
Rocket Lab Neutron
Neutron is a partially reusable, medium-lift, two-stage launch vehicle under development by Rocket Lab. Announced on March 1, 2021, the vehicle is designed to be capable of delivering a payload of 13,000 kg (28,700 lb) to low Earth orbit in a partially reusable configuration, and will focus on the growing megaconstellation satellite delivery market. First launch is expected no earlier than the last quarter of 2026.
Neutron is designed to be partially reusable. The rocket's first stage has a 7 m (23 ft) diameter, 4 landing legs and canards, and 2 fairing halves. To maximize reusability, Rocket Lab uses a "hungry hippo" payload fairing design in which, instead of fairings being detached from the first or second stage as is typical in modern rockets, the fairings are integrated with the first stage via hinges. Neutron has two fairing segments mounted in this way. The first stage is powered by 9 oxygen-rich staged-combustion CH4/LOx ("methalox") Archimedes rocket engines.
The second stage of Neutron is completely contained within the Hungry Hippo fairing. It is hung from the separation plane, in that the tank structure of the stage is in tension when under thrust. Like the first stage, its structure is composed of carbon composite. It is powered by one Archimedes engine.
The first stage is intended to propulsively land on a floating landing platform downrange in the Atlantic Ocean named Return on Investment.
An earlier design of Neutron (March 2021), included a rocket 40 m (130 ft) tall with a 4.5 m (15 ft)-diameter payload fairing. Rocket Lab stated that they intended for the first stage of the vehicle to be reusable, with landings planned on a floating landing platform downrange in the Atlantic Ocean.
On December 2, 2021, Rocket Lab unveiled a revised design for Neutron, featuring a tapered shape with a maximum diameter of 7 m (23 ft). Rocket Lab abandoned opts for a return-to-launch-site reusability profile and on[clarification needed] a floating platform. Instead of a conventional payload fairing that is jettisoned and recovered at sea, the fairing is integrated into the vehicle, and opens during stage separation to release the second stage and payload, and then closes before the first stage lands back on earth. The rocket features a unique interstage design where the second stage is "hung" from the first stage structure.
On September 22, 2022, another revised design was unveiled at an investor day, with the first stage engine count increased from seven to nine, and the engine architecture changed from gas-generator to oxygen rich staged combustion. This was done primarily to allow for a lower turbine temperature, while maintaining the same specific impulse. The engine will run with a significantly lower chamber pressure than other similar engines, at the cost of some performance. The number of fairing segments was reduced from four to two.
On July 27, 2023, new concept art on the Rocket Lab website showed a further revised design, with a reduction in the number of payload fairing sections from 4 to 2, redesigned landing legs, and small changes to the overall shape of the rocket. The number of payload fairing sections was reduced in order to allow for simpler fairing opening mechanisms while the landing legs were redesigned in order to be optimized for landings on floating platforms, allowing for an increase in launch availability. The redesigned legs feature a folding mechanism similar to the SpaceX Falcon 9 landing legs.
Rocket Lab Neutron
Neutron is a partially reusable, medium-lift, two-stage launch vehicle under development by Rocket Lab. Announced on March 1, 2021, the vehicle is designed to be capable of delivering a payload of 13,000 kg (28,700 lb) to low Earth orbit in a partially reusable configuration, and will focus on the growing megaconstellation satellite delivery market. First launch is expected no earlier than the last quarter of 2026.
Neutron is designed to be partially reusable. The rocket's first stage has a 7 m (23 ft) diameter, 4 landing legs and canards, and 2 fairing halves. To maximize reusability, Rocket Lab uses a "hungry hippo" payload fairing design in which, instead of fairings being detached from the first or second stage as is typical in modern rockets, the fairings are integrated with the first stage via hinges. Neutron has two fairing segments mounted in this way. The first stage is powered by 9 oxygen-rich staged-combustion CH4/LOx ("methalox") Archimedes rocket engines.
The second stage of Neutron is completely contained within the Hungry Hippo fairing. It is hung from the separation plane, in that the tank structure of the stage is in tension when under thrust. Like the first stage, its structure is composed of carbon composite. It is powered by one Archimedes engine.
The first stage is intended to propulsively land on a floating landing platform downrange in the Atlantic Ocean named Return on Investment.
An earlier design of Neutron (March 2021), included a rocket 40 m (130 ft) tall with a 4.5 m (15 ft)-diameter payload fairing. Rocket Lab stated that they intended for the first stage of the vehicle to be reusable, with landings planned on a floating landing platform downrange in the Atlantic Ocean.
On December 2, 2021, Rocket Lab unveiled a revised design for Neutron, featuring a tapered shape with a maximum diameter of 7 m (23 ft). Rocket Lab abandoned opts for a return-to-launch-site reusability profile and on[clarification needed] a floating platform. Instead of a conventional payload fairing that is jettisoned and recovered at sea, the fairing is integrated into the vehicle, and opens during stage separation to release the second stage and payload, and then closes before the first stage lands back on earth. The rocket features a unique interstage design where the second stage is "hung" from the first stage structure.
On September 22, 2022, another revised design was unveiled at an investor day, with the first stage engine count increased from seven to nine, and the engine architecture changed from gas-generator to oxygen rich staged combustion. This was done primarily to allow for a lower turbine temperature, while maintaining the same specific impulse. The engine will run with a significantly lower chamber pressure than other similar engines, at the cost of some performance. The number of fairing segments was reduced from four to two.
On July 27, 2023, new concept art on the Rocket Lab website showed a further revised design, with a reduction in the number of payload fairing sections from 4 to 2, redesigned landing legs, and small changes to the overall shape of the rocket. The number of payload fairing sections was reduced in order to allow for simpler fairing opening mechanisms while the landing legs were redesigned in order to be optimized for landings on floating platforms, allowing for an increase in launch availability. The redesigned legs feature a folding mechanism similar to the SpaceX Falcon 9 landing legs.