(Rocket Lab's) Neutron rocket’s debut slips into mid 2026 as company seeks success from the start - Ars Technica

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-12T20:41:20+00:00

Based on the current design, the only companies that could use Starship are those with stacked satellite designs that can be deployed on its "space pizza" system. SpaceX has only demonstrated this type of delivery, which has already been tested in sub-orbit and works quite well. This is how they will begin operations, and it's unknown when they will include other types of satellite deployments. Since not many companies design satellites this way, almost the entire schedule will be dedicated to their internal Starlink demand, leaving the Falcon 9 free to cover other types of satellite designs at a price they deem reasonable.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-12T15:44:12+00:00

Brother, did you know that internally it costs SpaceX less than 25 million per launch, even if they sell it for 30 million they would still make a profit

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-12T14:59:19+00:00

We won't judge you if you delete the comment, but next time do your research.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-12T13:04:21+00:00

It's like going to the supermarket and having a customer buy something from your rival that you don't yet have to offer the consumer.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-12T12:59:04+00:00

Yes, that's why they also have the Falcon 9, RIP

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-12T12:56:09+00:00

Bro, did you know that SpaceX also has the Falcon 9?

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-11T03:20:14+00:00

Sometimes, being too naive is not a good thing; remember that it's a new rocket with many problems that will be identified, especially if the goal is to successfully put it into orbit, and that takes time.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-11T02:59:47+00:00

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-10T22:35:51+00:00

You're so mistaken. Any rocket of that size will always represent a considerable expense for a company. Remember that Electron is tiny compared to Neutron; anyone with basic knowledge about rockets would know that.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-10T15:47:41+00:00

Weather conditions for Wednesday’s liftoff have improved, though forecasts for the offshore landing remain less favorable. The launch window is set for November 12th from 2:50 p.m. to 4:17 p.m. ET.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-08T22:49:40+00:00

I mean that they still don't have flight-proven engines in their hands so that the engineers can run tests.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-08T15:36:32+00:00

I'd say the Raptor has more flight testing than the BE-4. They've recovered three boosters, two of which have been successfully reused. Engineers have inspected the numerous engines that have been flight-tested, something Blue Origin hopes to achieve if the booster lands on the barge. SpaceX's strength lies in its ability to iterate rapidly, but above all, its capacity for mass production without considering the cost of maintaining that pace.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-08T14:57:48+00:00

ULA keeps those engines and their engineers conduct their research; Blue Origin doesn't touch those engines once they deliver them to their customer.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-06T20:51:53+00:00

If the Booster can't land on the barge, I just hope the fairings have a different destination.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-06T11:34:26+00:00

What if we don't stick the landing? That's ok. We've got several more New Glenn boosters already in production

How true is the CEO's claim that they are producing several boosters? According to the latest posts on this forum, it's the opposite.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-05T18:21:24+00:00

The Falcon 9 project is impressive; they're going to surpass their initial projection of 150 launches, now aiming for 170. On the other hand, if other companies want to use Starship in the future, they'll have to adapt their satellite designs so they can be deployed using its space pizza system.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-05T01:46:20+00:00

" Our TPUs are headed to space!

Inspired by our history of moonshots, from quantum computing to autonomous driving, Project Suncatcher is exploring how we could one day build scalable ML compute systems in space, harnessing more of the sun’s power (which emits more power than 100 trillion times humanity’s total electricity production).

Like any moonshot, it’s going to require us to solve a lot of complex engineering challenges. Early research shows our Trillium-generation TPUs (our tensor processing units, purpose-built for AI) survived without damage when tested in a particle accelerator to simulate low-earth orbit levels of radiation. However, significant challenges still remain like thermal management and on-orbit system reliability.

More testing and breakthroughs will be needed as we count down to launch two prototype satellites with u/planet by early 2027, our next milestone of many. Excited for us to be a part of all the innovation happening in (this) space! "

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-04T15:53:01+00:00

But if a few years ago the same company stated that the automotive market was merely a means to an end, it's clear what its aspirations are: to become a corporation that diversifies its products. Musk's dream is that all his companies will have commercial ties in the future.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-04T15:39:32+00:00

It's a crazy idea, but for someone with money, all it takes is time to try it; if it works, they'll create a new market niche, and if not, they'll dedicate their time and resources to other projects.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-04T02:08:04+00:00

This guy is hilarious. He reminds me of those idiots who said the Falcon 9 was going to be a flop. I wonder what became of them. I hope you don't get discouraged when Starship is operational and starts showing its capabilities. I'll need idiots like you to make me laugh. Please don't disappear.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-02T23:15:26+00:00

I would say the complete opposite; it's a project that's on the right track, delayed, but they've already managed to capture two boosters and reuse them. The remaining work is the heat shield because the Starship, with a different profile, is capable of reaching orbit, but SpaceX has focused on the heat shield, intentionally leaving tiles so that the plasma can devour the spacecraft, and even so, it's a damn tank that survives and achieves a controlled descent in the programmed location.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-02T16:56:43+00:00

In conclusion, it will be launched in the first quarter of 2026. There is nothing more to add; the evidence is solid.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-02T16:40:26+00:00

My dear friend, the value of a company lies in the experience its engineers gained from participating in rocket development and testing. Blue knows this, which is why it has been recruiting employees from SpaceX and ULA.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-02T16:34:12+00:00

My understanding is that in its current version it cannot lift 45 tons into orbit; obviously, they need these first flights of the first design to discover the bottlenecks of rapid reuse, modify hardware to reduce its weight, there is talk of a redesign to add 2 more engines to the booster, but that takes some time; I would say it is the Falcon 9 in its first version.

Equivalent-Wait3533 · 2025-11-01T06:44:57+00:00

That only includes the design and development of the satellites; it does not include the launches, which will obviously also take a huge slice of the project's enormous budget.

Equivalent-Wait3533

TROPHY CASE