SpaceX launched its first 50 Falcon 9 rockets in a little under seven years. Today we have a new record holder for the quickest to 50:
Until today I had never heard of Rocket Labs, the company that makes the Electron rocket. And in fairness, there's a big difference between Electron and SpaceX's Falcon 9: Electron can lift about 300 kilograms into low-earth orbit while Falcon 9 can lift about 23 tonnes. They're playing in different leagues.
But apparently there's a good market for small-payload launches and Rocket Labs is making the most of it.
Rocket Lab has a great story. The founder, Peter Beck, is from New Zealand, He worked various machinist jobs instead of attending university, and started tinkering with rockets. Some investors found him and backed him, and off he went. RL is now headquartered in the US, but does a lot of design and launches from tiny New Zealand. They're working on a reusable rocket, Neutron, that looks much more economic than Falcon9. First launch next year!
I see that their second launch site is in Virginia (on the peninsula).
Same as the antares and minotaur launched from so far.
You haven't heard of them? They're the only aerospace company building their rockets with 3D printing. Even the engines. That's the main reason they are small rockets for now.
And I always try really hard to remember to turn off the lights when I leave a room.
Scott Manley has a great youtube channel about rockets and space -- https://www.youtube.com/@scottmanley he talks about rocket labs frequently
If you haven't heard of Rocket Lab you haven't been paying attention. Let me help.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/rocket-report-electron-turns-50-chinas-moon-launcher-breathes-fire/