California startup Rocket Lab is preparing to challenge SpaceX with its new reusable rocket, Neutron. But on the way to achieving its goal, the company encountered an unexpected obstacle. Ahead of its key debut scheduled for September, the company is solving a logistical puzzle: how to deliver the huge Neutron components to the spaceport on Wallops Island (Virginia), which is surrounded by dangerous shallow waters.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on the southern tip of Wallops Island is a strategically important alternative to the congested Cape Canaveral in Florida. They are operated by the Virginia Commercial Space Administration and NASA. Rocket Lab already successfully uses Launch Complex-2 there for its smaller Electron rocket. In 2023, construction began on Launch Complex 3, specifically for Neutron. However, the island’s infrastructure has a critical flaw: the lack of a deep-water channel.
A $5 million logistics challenge
In order to transport the massive Neutron sections by barge, Rocket Lab needs to deepen the Sloop Gut channel. The company has already invested millions in LC-3 and is prepared to spend another $5 million on removing sediment and digging a 1,615-meter canal. The goal is to achieve a depth of at least 2 meters for barges to pass through. The goal is to achieve a depth of at least 2 meters for barges to pass through. And there is little time left to prepare for the September launch.
Alternative route
While the bureaucratic process is underway, Rocket Lab is considering contingency plan B. The company applied to federal regulators for permission to use an ancient sailing technique called kedging. This method involves dragging the vessel across the shoal using a series of fixed anchors, gradually moving it forward. This is a laborious but potentially viable way to deal with shallow water in case the main plan fails. As an alternative, the use of special ramps and cranes or boat ramps is being considered.
Neutron launch vehicle
Neutron is Rocket Lab’s ambitious response to SpaceX’s dominance. This medium-lift launch vehicle is designed to deliver up to 13 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. It should become a key player in the satellite launch market, offering an alternative to the Falcon 9 rocket. The timely debut of Neutron is critical to Rocket Lab’s competitiveness.
Earlier, we covered the story of Rocket Lab.
According to techcrunch.com
