According to the company, the Neutron rocket will be able to lift all the satellites into orbit, the launch of which is planned until 2029
NEW YORK, March 1. /TASS/. The American company Rocket Lab announced its intention to create a two-stage reusable rocket Neutron, which will be able to deliver about 8 tons of cargo to low-Earth orbit. This is stated in a press release published on the company's website on Monday.
"Neutron's 8-ton payload capacity will make it ideal for delivering batches of satellites to specified orbits and for more targeted satellite system development," the company's founder, Peter Beck, said in a statement. For the production of the rocket, the possibility of building a new high-tech plant is being considered. According to the company's plans, the first stage will return to Earth and land on a special platform that will be equipped in the ocean.
According to the company's assurances, Neutron, whose payload characteristics are comparable to the Russian Soyuz-2.1 b medium-class launch vehicle, will be able to lift into orbit all satellites scheduled for launch before 2029. It is expected that the missile will be able to make and fly between planets: the company can deliver up to 1.5 tons of cargo on Venus or Mars. From Earth to the Moon, Neutron will be able to transport about 2 tons of payload.
According to the calculations of Rocket Lab engineers, the height of the rocket will be 40 m, and the diameter - 4.5 m. The company plans to launch rockets from the territory of its second launch complex being created - the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), which is located on Wallops Island in the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of the US state of Virginia. The first launch is scheduled for 2024.
Previously, Rocket Lab, founded by New Zealander Beck in 2006, was engaged only in ultralight devices. The Electron rocket created by her is designed mainly for launching a payload of up to 150 kg into a sun-synchronous orbit with a height of 500 km, with a maximum payload capacity of 225 kg (to low Earth orbit). Since 2017, the company has managed to put about 50 spacecraft into orbit, carrying out both commercial and government orders.
