Vector (rocket)

The Vector-R (Vector-Rapide) was a launch vehicle project of the US space company Vector Launch . It was intended for the launch of payloads up to 60 kg into low earth orbits (LEO). In addition, Vector Launch planned the larger Vector-H (Vector-Heavy) with 290 kg LEO payload capacity. Both models were scheduled to launch from the Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PSCA), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, and the Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 8 (VAFB LC-8).

Due to financial difficulties, Vector Launch ceased operations on August 9, 2019.

Vector-R

construction

The Vector-R was designed as a two-stage rocket with liquid rocket engines. The first stage should have three engines, each with around 90  kN thrust, which use propylene as fuel and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. In the second stage, a propylene engine with around 4.5 kN thrust should be installed.

testing

The first test start with the “Block 0.001” demonstrator took place on May 3, 2017. The flight reached an altitude of 1340 meters.

The second test start with the prototype Block 0.002 took place on August 3, 2017 in Camden County , Georgia . An altitude of 3000 meters was reached. At the start, a motor injector was tested that had been produced using a 3D printing process.

A third test flight with the demonstrator block 0.003 was initially announced for August 2018, then for September 2018, November 2018, January 2019 and May 2019; then for June 2019 with the prototype B 1.001.

An orbital test flight with the prototype B 1.001 was initially announced for October 2018 and was later postponed to August 2019. After the reallocation of B 1.001 for a suborbital test, a new announcement of the first orbital flight was made, now with Block B 1.003 for the end of 2019 at the latest. The start should take place from the Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska .

commitment

Along with Virgin Orbit and Astra, Vector was one of the three finalists in the DARPA Launch Challenge small rocket launch competition . Accordingly, two Vector-R launches for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency were planned for the 1st quarter of 2020 .

The Pocketqube maker Alba orbital planned to launch satellites Unicorn 2a and Delfi-PQ with a vector R in the second half of 2019.

Vector-H

The Vector-H was supposed to be an enlarged variant of the Vector-R with about three times more powerful engines in both stages. A first flight is planned for 2020.

Trivia

The US launcher manufacturer Lockheed Martin presented as a joke on April 1, 2019 its own perfume called "Vector".

Start list

The following starts were planned.

Type R = Vector-R, H = Vector-H

Date ( UTC )	Type	Launch site	Mission or customer payload	Payload mass	Orbit height	Remarks
2019	R.	PSCA	Unicorn-2a Delfi-PQ		450 km	sun-synchronous orbit
2019	R.	PSCA	Hiber (communications satellite)
1st quarter 2020	R.		DARPA Launch Challenge		LEO	The launch site and payload will be announced at short notice
1st quarter 2020	R.		DARPA Launch Challenge		LEO	The launch site and payload will be announced at short notice
	H		York Space Systems	each max. 150 kg		6 starts

Two days before the shutdown in August 2019, Vector Launch also received an order from the US Air Force to carry out the Aslon-45 mission . This was endowed with 3.4 million US dollars and included the launch of several Cubesats into low earth orbit in 2021. Vector terminated the contract after a few weeks.

Web links

• Vector Launch website

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Vector Launch Inc: Vector Launch Vehicle Family. Retrieved February 5, 2019 . 
2. ^ ^{A b} Vector Launch Inc: Vector-H (Heavy). Retrieved February 5, 2019 . 
3. ^ Vector replaces CEO, suspends operations amid financial problems . Spacenews, 9./10. August 2019.
4. ↑ Jonathan Gehrke: Vector Space Systems carries out a second successful test start. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017 . 
5. ^ David Wichner: Tucson-based Vector test launches rocket in Georgia. August 3, 2017, accessed August 4, 2017 . 
6. ↑ ^{a b} Twitter message from Jim Cantrell, July 30, 2018.
7. ↑ Twitter message from Jim Cantrell, September 19, 2018.
8. ↑ Twitter message from Jim Cantrell, October 30, 2018.
9. ↑ OET Special Temporary Authority Report. Federal Communications Commission , December 5, 2018, accessed March 17, 2019 . 
10. ↑ ^{a b} Jeff Foust: Small launch vehicle companies see rideshare as an opportunity and a threat. February 7, 2019, accessed March 17, 2019 . 
11. ↑ ^{a b} Eric Berger: Vector co-founder says company overcoming challenges to reach the launch pad. In: Ars Technica. April 1, 2019, accessed April 1, 2019 . 
12. ^ ^{A b c} Jeff Foust: Three companies selected for DARPA Launch Challenge. April 10, 2019, accessed April 11, 2019 . 
13. ↑ ^{a b} Launch. Alba Orbital, accessed July 9, 2019 . 
14. ↑ Vector. In: Gunter's Space Page. February 7, 2019, accessed March 13, 2019 . 
15. ↑ Debra Werner: Lockheed Martin bottles scent of space. In: Spacenews. April 1, 2019, accessed April 1, 2019 . 
16. ↑ Vector. Lockheed Martin, accessed April 1, 2019 . 
17. ^ Alba Orbital's Partnerships: Networking in Space. Alba Orbital, August 2, 2018, accessed August 8, 2019 . 
18. ↑ Hiber Nanosat This Year: Microsatellite launch company continues to expand manifest ahead of first orbital attempt. In: prnewswire.com. Vector, January 11, 2019, accessed August 8, 2019 . 
19. ↑ Caleb Henry: Vector Space Systems Awarded $ 60 Million Launch Contract. In: Satellite Today. October 19, 2016, accessed August 8, 2019 . 
20. ↑ Platform Capabilities - S-Class . York Space Systems, accessed August 8, 2019: 65 kg bus mass + maximum 85 kg payload mass.
21. ↑ Vector relinquishes Air Force launch contract, mission re-awarded to Aevum. In: Spacenews. September 9, 2019, accessed September 10, 2019 .