Rocket Lab.

A thematic collection of postal items and images featuring USA/NZ company Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab was founded in 2006 by New Zealander Peter Beck, with the aim of developing lightweight, cost-effective and high-frequency rocket launch services. It soon became clear that more funding and support was needed than could be found in New Zealand so Peter turned to the USA space industry. Rocket Lab became a USA company with a New Zealand subsidiary. While the company is run from the USA, much of the rocket manufacturing and launches are based in New Zealand.

On 25 January 2018, Rocket Lab burst into the world of stamps with this impressive miniature sheet. The sheet, designed and issued by NZ Post, included a background image by Sam Taylor, of Napier and six stamps featuring images supplied by Rocket Lab.

The image background of the sheet above was the work of Sam Taylor Graphic, designer by day and aerospace artist by night. Kiwi-born-and-bred Sam Taylor is an avid space enthusiast, drawing inspiration from the intricate engineering of rockets and the unexplained mysteries of the universe. Sam’s work can be viewed at solarxploration.wixsite.com/concepts or follow his journey on Instagram @solarxploration.

Sam Taylor has kindly allowed us to display a few of his amazing images. 

This was the image used for the NZ Post Miniature Sheet.

Another launch view showing the end of the Mahia Peninsula. 

View of Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

2018 - New Zealand in Space.

The Six Stamps.

Let's look at the six stamps shown on the miniature sheet above and see how they tell much of the Rocket Lab story.

$1.00 - The Electron Rocket.

The Electron rocket horizontal in its cradle, ready to fly. Soon it will be placed in an upright position so final preparations and fuelling can be completed.  Electron is a 17-metre-high, carbon-composite launch vehicle that can carry payloads of up to 225 kilograms (such as small satellites) into low orbit. These commercial flights could, in turn, enable satellite-based services, for example, affordable Internet, and boost Earth-based activities such as environmental monitoring and search and rescue.

$2.00 - Electron on the Pad.

As dawn breaks over the launch site, Electron stands ready to go. While this was still considered as the second of three test flights in many ways it could also be called an operational mission as three satellites were carried into space. The launch was delayed due to two unauthorised boats being in the area but once the all-clear was given, Electron was on its way.

$2.20 - The Humanity Star.

Although the successful launch was technically a test, Electron carried three customer payloads - 2x weather satellites and 1x Earth-observation satellite. In addition to these satellites the ‘Humanity Star’ was also deployed. With a focus on environmental sustainability, all three satellites and the Humanity Star are programmed to fall back towards Earth after use and disintegrate on reaching Earth’s atmosphere.

The Humanity Star, a glittering sphere of triangular panels, will rotate Earth and be visible to the naked eye. In nine months or so, the Humanity Star will reenter Earth's atmosphere to be consumed leaving no trace of its passage through orbit. Peter Beck said, "My hope is that everyone looking up at the Humanity Star will look past it to the expanse of the universe, feel a connection to our place in it and think a little differently about their lives, actions and what is important."  

Some did not receive this idea well, accusing Rocket Lab of vandalism or night sky pollution. It is said that this "Star" is about the same brightness as the International Space Station. So, how many people have seen the Space Station without being told exactly where to look?

$2.70 - Spectacular Launch Site.

Rocket Lab’s New Zealand launch site is at the tip of Mahia Peninsula, an isolated location between Napier and Gisborne on the North Island’s east coast. The first orbital launch site in New Zealand, and the first privately operated orbital launch site in the world, it’s an ideal location for launching satellites to provide services around the world.

Local Maori have complained about access to the beaches below the launch site during launch windows but it is expected that once launches become regular events, the launch windows will be much shorter.

$3.00 - "Lift-Off."

The Electron is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford rocket engines that were developed by Rocket Lab and named after New Zealand born British scientist, Lord Rutherford. The engines use battery-powered electric motors for their fuel feed, a world-first for orbital rockets.  Almost all the major engine parts are fabricated by 3D printing, also a world first. The first stage uses nine of these engines, each developing 18 kN (4,000 lbf) of thrust. The second stage uses a re-startable vacuum optimised version of the Rutherford which develops 22 kN (4,900 lbf) of thrust.   

$3.30 - In Orbit.

In space, the Electron can be moved to a higher or different orbit to meet the requirements of various customer's satellites that it is carrying. The vehicle is capable of delivering payloads of 150 kg to a 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit. The projected cost per launch is expected to be less than US$5 million.

2019 - New Zealand Space Pioneers.

The clear, unpolluted southern skies of New Zealand, have more stars and galaxies accessible to the naked eye than in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It is not surprising then that for most of New Zealand’s history, the lines between professional and amateur astronomers have been blurred. It is in this spirit that New Zealanders have helped to advance the world’s knowledge about space and space sciences. These five stamps celebrate six of New Zealand's astronomers, cosmologists, discoverers and rocket scientists.

While each these stamps appear to have nothing to do with Rocket Lab when they are placed together there is an interesting link.

   

Limited Edition FDC and the se-tenant strip of five stamps both show the rocket shape made by these five stamps. The design of this rocket being roughly based on Rocket Lab's Electron rocket.

This miniature sheet shows Rocket Labs Electron rocket as part of its background design. 

Rocket Lab Mission Covers by BiberPost.

Mission patches & information from the Rocket Lab Website.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/

The German company, BiberPost is part of marketing service Magdeburg KG, a company of the media group Magdeburg based in Magdeburg. It is the brand for all logistics and delivery services within the Magdeburg media group. Currently, nearly 1,100 full-time employees are serving mail for BiberPost, the regional daily newspaper and national titles. According to its own data, around 200,000 shipments are transported daily with 600 own delivery vehicles.

To celebrate Rocket Labs achievements BiberPost has produced two stamps and a series of covers marking each launch. First, the two stamps.

 

 Biberpost 0,60€, Mahia Peninsula launch Complex.                             Biberpost 0,60€, Rocket Lab Electron.               

"It's a Test."

Rocket Lab - Mission 1.

Launch Date - 29 June 2019.

Mission Overview.

It's a Test was the first launch of Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle. When Electron lifted-off at 16:20 NZT from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand, it became the first orbital-class rocket launched from a private launch site. 

The mission saw Electron complete a perfect first stage burn, stage separation, second stage ignition and fairing separation. Electron successfully reached space and put Rocket Lab in an incredibly strong position to accelerate into commercial operations.

"Still Testing."

Rocket Lab - Mission 2.

Launch Date - 21 January 2018.

Mission Overview

The Still Testing mission was Rocket Lab's first orbital launch of the Electron vehicle. Electron lifted-off at 14:43 NZDT from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand on 21 January 2018. The launch marked the beginning of a new era in commercial access to space.

'Still Testing,' carried a Dove Pioneer Earth-imaging satellite for Planet, as well as two Lemur-2 satellites for weather and ship tracking company Spire.

"It's Business Time."
Rocket Lab - Mission 3.
Launch Date - 11 November 2018

Mission Overview.
It's Business Time was Rocket Lab's third Electron launch. It's Business Time was manifested with commercial satellites from Spire Global, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Fleet Space Technologies, as well as an educational payload from the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program (ICSP) and a drag sail technology demonstrator designed and built by High-Performance Space Structure Systems GmBH (HPS GmbH).
The payloads were launched to a 210km x 500km circular orbit at 85 degrees, before being circularized to 500 x 500 km using Rocket Lab’s Curie engine powered Kick Stage.

NASA ELANA-19.

Rocket Lab - Mission 4.

Launch Date - 16 December 2018.

Mission Overview.

The ELaNa-19 mission for NASA (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites 19) was Rocket Lab’s fourth Electron launch and the company’s first mission for NASA. The mission saw Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle loft 13 CubeSats to low Earth orbit.

The launch was significant for the small satellite industry as it was the first time NASA CubeSats enjoyed a dedicated ride to orbit on a commercial launch vehicle, thanks to NASA’s forward-leaning Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) initiative. 

DARPA R3D2.

Rocket Lab - Mission 5.

Launch Date - 28 March 2019.

Mission Overview.

The DARPA R3D2 mission was Rocket Lab’s fifth mission and the

company’s first launch of 2019. The mission launched the R3D2 (Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration) payload for DARPA. R3D2 was a prototype reflectarray antenna designed to improve radio communications in small spacecraft.

The R3D2 antenna, made of a tissue-thin Kapton membrane, packed tightly inside a small satellite for stowage during launch, before deploying to its full size of 2.25 meters in diameter once it reached low Earth orbit. By compacting a large antenna into a small satellite, the spacecraft can provide a significant capability, negating the need for satellite owners to build large satellites that can only be launched as a ride-share payload on big rockets with significant price tags and lengthy delays.

The 150kg R3D2 satellite lifted off on an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula and was deployed to a 425kmx425km orbit at 39.5 degrees by Electron’s Kick Stage, a nimble upper stage designed to insert payloads with precise accuracy before deorbiting itself and leaving no space junk behind. 

STP-27RD.

Rocket Lab - Mission 6.

Launch Date - 5 May 2019.

Mission Overview

The STP-27RD mission was Rocket Lab’s sixth mission and the company’s second launch of 2019. Lifting-off from Launch Complex 1, the mission lofted three research and development satellites for the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program. 

The Space Plug and Play Architecture Research CubeSat-1 (SPARC-1) payload, sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), was a joint Swedish-United States experiment to explore technology developments in avionics miniaturization, software-defined radio systems, and space situational awareness (SSA). 

The Falcon Orbital Debris Experiment (Falcon ODE), sponsored by the United States Air Force Academy, evaluated ground-based tracking of space objects. 

The final payload was the 150kg Harbinger satellite; a commercial small satellite built by York Space Systems and sponsored by the U.S Army to demonstrate the ability of an experimental commercial system to meet DoD space capability requirements.

"Make It Rain."

Rocket Lab - Mission 7.

Launch Date - 29 June 2019.

Mission Overview.

The Make It Rain mission launched multiple spacecraft as part of a rideshare flight procured by Spaceflight. The launch took place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula.

The mission was named ‘Make it Rain’ in a nod to the high volume of rainfall in Seattle, where Spaceflight is headquartered, as well in New Zealand where Launch Complex 1 is located. Among the payloads on the mission for Spaceflight were BlackSky’s Global-3 satellite and Melbourne Space Program’s ACRUX-1 CubeSat.

"Look Ma, No Hands."

Rocket Lab - Mission 8.

Launch Date - 19 August 2019.

Mission Overview.
Rocket Lab's eighth mission lifted-off on 19 August UTC from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, carrying a total of four satellites aboard an Electron launch vehicle.
Onboard were satellites destined to begin a new constellation for UNSEENLABS, as well as more rideshare payloads for Spaceflight, consisting of a spacecraft for BlackSky and the United States Air Force Space Command.
The mission launched a CubeSat that formed the cornerstone of a new maritime surveillance constellation for French company UNSEENLABS. The constellation aims to deliver precise, reliable, and secure maritime data, enabling organizations to monitor their own vessels and observe those that present risks, such as pirates and illegal vessels.




Launching images by Sam Taylor.
solarxploration.wixsite.com/concepts

Mission patches & information from the Rocket Lab Website.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information & images for this post came from.

New Zealand Post (Stamps)