Rocket Lab’s (NASDAQ: RKLB) Q3 results are out and revealed they’re still looking good financially despite the launch failure that occurred in September.
In the course of the call, it was revealed that the launch failure investigation was capable of determine the cause and that they’ve scheduled the subsequent launch with the window opening on November twenty eighth and lengthening into December.
Rocket Lab ended Q3 with two successful launches, recoveries, the primary use of a flight-proven engine, and $374 million in money and money equivalents.
Regarding the failure, the corporate announced that within the 1.6 seconds of knowledge received from Electron, they were capable of determine an electrical arc that caused power to be cut from the battery packs, a phenomenon referred to as “Paschen’s Law – where the power of
electrical arcs to form is greatly exacerbated in a partial vacuum”.
Corrections are in work with the investigation to be officially closed in the approaching weeks. Fixes include ensuring higher insulation and fully enclosing/pressurizing the ability supply system to forestall a repeat on future missions.
Looking ahead into 2024, Rocket Lab shared they’ve 22 launches on their current schedule with a breakdown of 9 missions that can recuperate the primary stage, 11 standard missions, and a couple of HASTE missions.
The decision also yielded a couple of updates on the corporate’s Neutron rocket. The stage 2 structural & cryogenic test was accomplished successfully, with the test article able to face up to 7x atmospheric pressure before it was intentionally overpressurized to seek out the tank’s limits. The corporate will conduct one other 2nd stage tank test in the primary half of 2024.
As a part of structural testing we push our tanks to Maximum Expected Operating Pressure (MEOP)…and much beyond. It’s at all times fun to round out an intensive test campaign with a bang!
Armed with a wealth of knowledge from this campaign, the subsequent Neutron stage 2 tank is progressing at… https://t.co/Zk0ePk8TIU pic.twitter.com/2BqJjBOASQ
— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) October 4, 2023
The engine that can power Neutron, Archimedes, is undergoing its own tests, including combustion testing, to make sure correct ratios of methane and liquid oxygen in flight-like situations. The corporate can be making progress on the test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, where Archimedes will conduct full-scale engine tests.
Overall, despite the Electron launch failure, Rocket Lab looks poised to maneuver forward with a busy 2024 and further advancements of their Neutron rocket, getting it closer to its maiden launch.