Thread by @thesheetztweetz

Rocket Lab is hosting a call with CEO Peter Beck about the company's next Electron launch, which is scheduled for no earlier than May 15, and an update on its plans to recover this rocket booster with an ocean splashdown.

Thread:

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Rocket Lab announced last month that its 20th flight would feature its second booster recovery attempt:
cnbc.com/2021/04/08/roc…

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Here's a more detailed overview of the "Running Out Of Toes" mission profile:

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck What's new with this recovery attempt?

Beck: "Really what we're trying to do here is get into a bit of a cadence with our reusability missions and work through some logistics."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck: For this recovery "we've also introduced what the team calls ORCA – I think it's a terrible name, but the team loves it – Ocean Recovery and Capture Apparatus."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck: "This mission also has a bunch of reused components from the last reusable mission" which have been requalified for flight, a process Rocket Lab will continue to expand with future missions.

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck says Rocket Lab will conduct a third splashdown recovery mission before the end of the year, which will feature "a block upgrade" to Electron, including "an improved decelerator."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck, on his confidence in Rocket Lab's reusability progress:

"We are kind of more bullish on this than ever before. I mean, there is just nothing like getting a rocket back and putting it in the factory."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck says the condition of the first Electron booster recovered last year "was remarkable," and they've introduced multiple upgrades to the booster for this second attempt, including thermal protection systems in high temperature areas.

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Rocket Lab "is holding the foot on the gas pedal with respect to to Electron manufacturing" rate, but "we're not making significant investments into new machinery, new infrastructure."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck: "I believe our record" for producing an Electron booster "is one in 20" days.

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck: "Production continues to improve but, ultimately, if we can get the stage back" then Rocket Lab can "top it off with propellant and charge the batteries" to go launch again, which will support an increased cadence for Electron.

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck says his biggest surprise from the first splashdown recovery was that Rocket Lab recovered Electron's booster at all.

"We turned up outside the factory and we pulled the cover off and the whole team was very surprised."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Rocket Lab is still working to have autonomous flight termination system (AFTS) certified before it can begin launches from LC-2 in Virginia.

Beck: It is "taking a lot longer than than we all expected" but keeping his eye "on the longer term prize" of AFTS at Wallops' range.

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Beck says no Rocket Lab customers have expressed concern about flying on a reused Electron versus a new one:

"The vehicle that we put on the pad will have the same level of mission assurance and certification."

@RocketLab @Peter_J_Beck Similar to the Falcon 9 approach, Beck says Rocket Lab plans to build one Neutron rocket per year and operate a fleet of 4 boosters, thanks to reusability.