Vector Wolverine от Vector Space

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 18 ч.18 часов назад


We had a great time at the @CalPolyCubeSat Developer Workshop meeting with our amazing customers and showing off the Vector-R this week. Next stop: orbit!

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Peter Anderson‏ @panderson34342 1 мая


@vectorspacesys getting ready for launch at @CalPolyCubeSat workshop!

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http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-44194126

Plans for first rocket launch dedicated to Scottish satellite
By Ken Macdonald
BBC Scotland Science Correspondent

21 May 2018

Plans are in place for the first rocket launch dedicated to a Scottish satellite.

It will be the first time a Scottish built orbiter has not had to piggyback on another launch vehicle.

The satellite - called Unicorn 2-a - is another milestone for Scotland's growing space industry.

It is expected to lift off from a launch site in Alaska later this year aboard an American built Vector-R rocket.

A product of Vector Launch Inc., it is designed to lift small satellites into orbit.

Спойлер

Computer-generated image of satellite in space


Until now all of Scotland's small satellites have had to piggyback on large rocket vehicles

The company says it will "democratise space" by providing affordable access to orbit.

Growing numbers of small probes called CubeSats are going up.

They are based on one or more cubes, just 10cm across, but that adds up to a litre of instrumentation in space.

The first CubeSat went up 20 years ago.

Since then more than 2,000 others have been launched or are planned. Two are on their way to Mars.

Unicorn 2-a is a type of satellite called a PocketQube.

It is based on an even smaller planform than a CubeSat: a stack of three 5cm cubes.


Unicorn 2-a is a type of satellite called a PocketQube

It has been built by the Glasgow company Alba Orbital.

Its founder and chief executive officer Tom Walkinshaw says that in space, small is beautiful.

"It costs more than gold per kilogram to launch a satellite into space, and Alba is really focused on keeping it small - and also making it really capable," he said.

"Because there's no point making a small satellite if it's no good."

Advanced nanoelectronics will pack a lot of punch into a small payload. The mission of Unicorn-2A is to image the Earth by night.

The data can be used to estimate populations, monitor infrastructure or even track the spread of disease.

Alba Orbital plan to launch PocketQubes by the dozen - constellations of satellites to be used for Earth observation, remote sensing and communications.

The launch of the American-made Vector-R will make Alba Orbital the third Scottish company to get a satellite into space.


Scotland's space industry is growing, with 70 Glasgow-built satellites already up there

It is part of a Scottish space industry that employs more than 7,000 people and turns over £2.5bn a year.

More than 70 Glasgow-built satellites are already up there.

The Clyde Space company were first with UKube-1, built for the UK Space Agency.

Then came the data company Spire which has its European base in the city.

Thanks to them nowhere outside California has more satellites in orbit than Glasgow.

'Sun-synchronous orbit'

But until now all of Scotland's small satellites have had to piggyback on large rocket vehicles like Russia's Soyuz. That meant that if the principal payload was delayed, so was the CubeSat

The Vector-R is designed to jump the queue by lifting up to 55lbs of small satellites.

They will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit which means a probe will be in the same position above the Earth each day, enabling it to track changes down here.

The Alaska launch will be the first orbital attempt by the Vector-R.

It will have room for another satellite so Alba Orbital have sub-contracted the slot to an experimental probe from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Because after years of our satellites hitching a ride it's Scotland's turn to offer someone else a lift.

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Jim Cantrell‏ @jamesncantrell 1 июн.

This is what happens when you hire racers @vectorspacesys ... off-road racing suspensions for rocket transport. New cradle to send rockets from factory to launch site inside C containers. Engineering model ready for maiden voyage to Alaska next week for tests

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Jim Cantrell‏ @jamesncantrell 3 ч. назад

Successful pressure test of Quick Disconnect (QD) for @vectorspacesys Vector-R at cryogenic temps. The QD is fueling & data port on rocket that releases as the rocket ignites and takes off. Ours is the size of a sandwich. Saturn V version was the size of a desk. Times change !

Video (0:20)

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 12 мин. назад

Vector-R MEU on her way to Kodiak for launch operations dress rehearsal... Stay tuned...

[Евгений Кравченко]

Интересная фотка. Хвостовой отсек оставляет впечатление максимальной простоты изделия, почти что кустарности, и в то же время аккуратности исполнения. Наверное, это хорошо - ракета должна получиться дешевой

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 20 ч. назад

New animation showcasing the mobile/rapid launch capabilities of our Vector-R vehicle. Includes launch, stage separation, and example micro satellite deployments

Animation (1:56)

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 5 ч. назад

Vector's TEL (transporter erector launcher) being loaded in Tacoma, WA on her way to Kodiak...

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 20 ч. назад

We are working as fast as possible to go to orbit; range availability and FAA licensing dictate as much the launch date as the rocket itself being ready (which will be very soon...)

Jim Cantrell‏ @jamesncantrell 20 ч. назад

David Wichner's @Tucsonstar piece on @vectorspacesys progress. Set first orbital launch date to October 2018 but still working FAA license & range schedule for exact days. Meanwhile 3 Vector-R's under construction & lots of on-going testing. Stay tuned.

https://t.co/3BJGL4DC2o

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Jim Cantrell‏ @jamesncantrell 13 июн.

Very nice test firing today at the Arizona Test Site of the @vectorspacesys Vector-R first stage engine on propylene and LOX. Qualification testing continues in preparation for a flight later this year.

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 9 ч. назад

Hello from Kodiak! Vector-R MEU engineering Stage 1 test unit in the Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PSCA) Payload Processing Facility, awaiting telemetry testing & payload integration dress rehearsals on Pad C...

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 2 ч. назад

Vector is excited to be back in Kodiak at the Pacific Spaceport Complex conducting operational tests with Alaska Aerospace Corporation leading up to our first space launch toward the end of 2018!

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Jim Cantrell‏ @jamesncantrell 18 ч. назад

Progress continues @vectorspacesys where our 1st & 2nd Stage dev units are being assembled. You can see our carbon fiber filament wound tanks (developed by Tom DeLay & NASA in 2005) using low cost fab technique differing from conventional autoclave units https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/an-update-on-composite-tanks-for-cryogens ...

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Jim Cantrell‏ @jamesncantrell 18 ч. назад

Another @vectorspacesys first stage engine test success last week @ AZ Test Site. Using @NASA designed/produced 3D printed injectors we are hitting performance targets with unique pressure fed propylene/LOX engines begun under Garvey Spacecraft in 2005

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Gabe Stutman‏ @kdmgabe 28 мин. назад

dry run of Vector R prototype in Kodiak

Video (0:21)

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Gabe Stutman‏ @kdmgabe 22 мин. назад

Vector R model is standing up for second test of the week. Includes fueling test using propylene and oxygen

Video (0:19)

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http://www.albaorbital.com/new-blog/2018/7/12/vector-fit-check-pictures

July 12, 2018

Vector Fit Check Pictures

Some Pictures of our recent Albapod fitcheck at Kodiak Launch complex, in Alaska with Vector Space Systems and their new Vector-R Launch Vehicle 

Cluster 1 is sold out. If you want to take part in our second launch campaign (cluster 2) please visit our launch page.

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VECTOR‏ @vectorspacesys 4 ч. назад

Vector-R second stage launch vehicle LOX and Propylene fuel tanks going through final assembly today including skirt module population and harness installation

[Чебурашка]

Стартаперов развелось... :evil:
А спутников на всех хватит  :?: