New Zealand's rocket: the Atea-1

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mithridates

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I hope there isn't a duplicate thread on this subject somewhere.<br /><br />http://www.gizmag.com/go/7819/<br /><br />(BTW, August 20007 is a typo but I think it's more interesting with it in there)<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>August 20, 20007 New Zealand company, Rocket Lab, has developed a carbon, 5.2 meter sub-orbital rocket that it hopes will spearhead a New Zealand space industry. A full-scale mock up of the Åtea-01 rocket has now been unveiled with plans to launch four rockets from mid 2008 carrying payloads ranging from scientific equipment to small satellites and even the ashes of loved ones into orbit.<br /><br />The Atea rocket (the name Åtea is Te Reo Maori for space) can reach altitudes up to 250 kilometers at speeds of up to Mach 4, and can carry payloads of up to 70 kilograms.<br /><br />Peter Beck and Mark Rocket are behind the project the privately owned company founded by Beck in 2006. Rocket, (who changed his name by deed poll), claims that the clear airspace and favorable regulatory demands make New Zealand the perfect setting for rocket launches. But environmentalists and Lord of the Rings fans need not worry about Rocket Lab smoking up the Land of the Long White Cloud. Environmental considerations are high on the company’s agenda with the Atea rocket designed to release just 14 kilograms of CO2 per launch – equivalent to the output of a car over three days.<br /><br />Rocket Lab will appeal to developers and scientists who require a unique orbital environment to further their research. Crystalline materials form more easily in low gravity, making the rocket a useful place to produce materials like protein, high purity silicone and possibly even the elusive ZBLAN. The rocket could also be used to gather data on solar energy and climate change, assisting organizations in addressing them more effectively.<br /><br />The Atea project is just the latest manife</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>
 
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earth_bound_misfit

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What? No number 8 fencing wire. PVC soil pipe and BBQ igniter <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /> <br />Interesting though, thanks for the post.<br />Now where's SpaceKiwi? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>
 
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kelvinzero

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I also found this link on the company webpage<br />http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/atea.html<br /><br />Suborbital is a long way from orbital, but still very cool... <br /><br />Im not really familiar with the uses of suborbital flights.. how plausible to use that 70kg for another stage? At this level of performance, what kg would you guess would make it to orbit?
 
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windnwar

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most suborbital flights like that are used to test high altitude weather instruments, re-entry materials, etc. Stuff that would be difficult to simulate in a lab but small and cheap enough to give the results they need without breaking the budget. 70kilos is a fair bit of payload for something like that. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font size="2" color="#0000ff">""Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." --Albert Einstein"</font></p> </div>
 
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SpaceKiwi

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They had a piece about this on <i>One News</i> a while back, e_b_m. I'm not sure if the deed poll name change added a great deal to the gentleman's credibility, but we will see how they get on I guess. Would certainly be interested in watching a launch live, should that opportunity present itself.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>
 
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