Neutron's first launch slips again amid trouble with carbon composites
Rocket Lab announced the Neutron rocket in 2021, aiming for a first flight in 2024.
Rocket Lab announced the Neutron rocket in 2021, aiming for a first flight in 2024.
The short version
- Rocket Lab announced Wednesday that its Neutron launch vehicle won’t fly until 2027, citing an issue discovered during manufacturing of the rocket’s carbon composite structures.
- The announcement was public confirmation of what nearly everyone inside Rocket Lab and the wider space industry already knew.
- But Rocket Lab’s statement Wednesday about Neutron’s schedule suggests the company is still struggling with manufacturing the rocket’s large booster stage.
What happened
Neutron’s reusable first stage is made of carbon composite structures, which offer low weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. But carbon composites in aerospace are generally harder to manufacture than metallic structures.
Why it matters
Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO, identified a manufacturing defect as the reason for Neutron’s latest schedule slip.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.