# New Zealand on cusp of launching rocket
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 25, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382 "2017-05-25T00:34:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/1 "2017-05-25T00:34:16Z")
I haven’t followed these guys nearly as closely as I do SpaceX, but they appear to be serious.
> **[Rocket Lab waits out weather delays](https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-waits-out-weather-delays/)**
>
> As weather continues to delay the first launch of its Electron rocket, Rocket Lab’s chief executive said it remains patient until conditions are right.
They’re currently waiting out the weather (specifically, avoiding any risk of “triboelectrification”, which is a fancy word for static electricity). But it seems like they’ll be launching any day now.
[Rocket Lab](https://www.rocketlabusa.com) took the SpaceX lesson of building a two-stage kerosene-oxygen rocket, which avoids the difficulties of exotic propellants while being performant enough to be useful. They also use virtually the same engine on the first and second stages, with the first stage just having more of them. It’s a small rocket, with only a 150 kg payload, so we’ll see if there’s enough of a market in this size class.
They have a couple key innovations:
- full composite (carbon fiber) body
- electric pumps for the engines
The latter in particular is completely unique as far as I know; typically, either the tank is pressurized, or the pumps are driven by a turbine that runs on the main fuel. Electric pumps won’t be as mass efficient, but seem to greatly simplify the design. High power gas turbines are hard.
I’m a little skeptical of their business model but I certainly wish them success.
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/2 "2017-05-25T11:32:43Z")
I wonder if this is a secret plot by remote, isolate New Zealand to hide the fact that they’re really developing intercontinental launch capability? Modern delivery systems are capable of raining down Chinese gooseberries across thousands of kilometers of enemy soil.
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### Author:  [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/3 "2017-05-25T11:42:45Z")
You think the country that banned nuclear powered American ships (and ships that could carry nuclear weapons) from its waters and enshrined that policy into law is looking to build nuclear tipped ICBMs? That seems unlikely.
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### Author:  [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/4 "2017-05-25T11:43:34Z")
The [BBC is reporting the rocket has successfully launched](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39971843).
Australia’s complete inability to get its shit together on stuff like this is a source of profound disappointment to me.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/5 "2017-05-25T13:38:35Z")
Our grandchildren will always talk about the great War Down Undah having started today!
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/6 "2017-05-25T13:54:03Z")
Why does anyone need sheep in space?
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### Author:  [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/7 "2017-05-25T13:57:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Why does anyone need sheep in space?
Space: where the men are Men and the sheep know it.
Of course, if they succeed, it, will have widespread consequences–the herd shot round the world.
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### Author:  [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/8 "2017-05-25T16:32:19Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#):
>
> The [BBC is reporting the rocket has successfully launched](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39971843).
>
> Australia’s complete inability to get its shit together on stuff like this is a source of profound disappointment to me.
Agreed. Darwin, NT, with its low, low latitude, would be a fantastic launch site.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/9 "2017-05-25T17:11:27Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#):
>
> The [BBC is reporting the rocket has successfully launched](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39971843).
>
> Australia’s complete inability to get its shit together on stuff like this is a source of profound disappointment to me.
And now Nova Scotia is [getting into the act](https://www.cbc.ca/1.4065566).
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### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/10 "2017-05-25T18:18:50Z")
Nice! A little disappointing that they “did not quite reach orbit”, but it took SpaceX two flights before not quite reaching orbit, so this is a very impressive achievement for such a small team.
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### Author:  [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/11 "2017-05-25T19:50:12Z")
“Ground Control to Major Kiwi. Commencing countdown, engines on.”
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### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/12 "2017-05-25T20:28:47Z")
Interesting thread topic/OP username combo.
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### Author:  [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/13 "2017-05-25T21:33:40Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#):
>
> Of course, if they succeed, it, will have widespread consequences–the herd shot round the world.
A good trouting awaits you, Sir!
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/14 "2017-05-25T23:44:38Z")
> [@Grey](#):
>
> You think the country that banned nuclear powered American ships (and ships that could carry nuclear weapons) from its waters and enshrined that policy into law is looking to build nuclear tipped ICBMs? That seems unlikely.
I’m not sure whether to say “whoosh,” or to direct you to the “Chinese Gooseberry” page on Wikipedia. 😃
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### Author:  [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/15 "2017-05-25T23:53:51Z")
Hm. Phallic shaped object doesn’t quiiiiite make it into orbit.
Let’s call it the Kiwi Wee Wee.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/16 "2017-05-26T13:41:21Z")
I for one welcome our new Kiwi overlords.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-on-cusp-of-launching-rocket/787382/17 "2017-05-26T19:33:36Z")
Wouldn’t a rocket launched from New Zealand (or Australia) require an exorbitant amount of fuel? I mean they have to blast all the way through the earth before going into space, what with being down under and all.
And if they put hair on the rocket like they do their fruit, it’s going to increase drag significantly.