Isar Aerospace launch into orbit [video] (youtube.com)

107 pointsby stefan_4 days ago18 comments

huhtenberg 4 days ago

How does Isar Aerospace fit in with other smaller rocket launchers?

I'd imagine they are well behind, say, RKLB, but how far are they from commercial launches?

Edit after some digging, some background info:

   Vehicle   | Height | Diameter | Payload to LEO
  -----------+--------+----------+----------------
   Electron  |  18 m  |   1.8 m  |      300 kg
   Isar      |  28 m  |   2.0 m  |     1000 kg
   Neutron * |  43 m  |   7.0 m  |    13000 kg
   Falcon 9  |  70 m  |   3.7 m  |    23000 kg

  * in the works

To Rocket Lab's defense, they do quite a bit more than just launching Electrons and chipping at the Neutron.

NetMageSCW 4 days ago

This second launch included some payloads - cube sats.

ChrisArchitect 4 days ago

Some more discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49580369

westpfelia 4 days ago

As a person involved in the operations side of this campaign. HOLY SHIT we did it!

NetMageSCW 4 days ago

With a pretty good sized rocket as well. 4x Rocket Lab’s Electron payload and 4x to 9x smaller than Falcon 9.

westpfelia 4 days ago

We made history man. Such a good feeling

mrtksn 4 days ago

Congrats! Do you have an EU flag on the wall like the US space companies have an US flag?

eps 4 days ago

What an odd question to ask.

mrtksn 4 days ago

what’s odd about it?

TurboTveit 4 days ago

One odd thing about it is that it was launched from a country that is not a member of the EU?

mrtksn 4 days ago

So? Ariane flies from french guiana and has all the participants flags on it.

nkoren 4 days ago

Fun fact: French Guiana is a part of France -- and very much part of the EU -- despite not actually being in Europe. In roughly the same way that Hawaii is a part of the United States of America, despite not actually being in America.

mrtksn 4 days ago

You are right

okanat 4 days ago

EU isn't a single identity. Usually overt displays of nationalism is frowned upon in Europe, especially in Germany. Moreover I have a strong guess that if there would be a flag, it would be the Bavarian one for a company called "Isar".

mrtksn 4 days ago

EU is a single well defined entity, the frowned upon flags are the German flags, EU flags are well tolerated especially in international settings.

For example the first electric plane that recently flew was originally European until last year and they had an EU flag on it. When eventually flew in USA they had the US flag.

tectonic 4 days ago

Well done!

consumer451 4 days ago

Congratulations to all involved!

nkoren 4 days ago

FANTASTIC accomplishment, congratulations!!!!

Now: please make it rapidly reusable and at least 10x larger. Europe desperately needs sovereign launch capabilities in that class. Today, you were the first to cross the starting line. AWESOME. Have a drink, get some rest, and get back to work. Everyone will be rooting for you!