By developing a simple engine with modest performance requirements, the timeline for development and testing can be drastically accelerated.
Neutron’s lightweight carbon composite structure means Archimedes does not need the immense performance and complexity typically associated with larger rockets and their propulsion systems. Seven Archimedes engines will propel Neutron’s first stage, with a single vacuum optimized Archimedes engine on the second stage.
#ARCHIMEDES AS A SPACE PIONEER GENERATOR#
Designed and manufactured in-house by Rocket Lab, Archimedes is a reusable liquid oxygen / methane gas generator cycle engine capable of 1 meganewton thrust and 320 seconds of ISP. By changing to the higher performing cycle but with lower performance requirements, they were able to lower temperatures and other stress factors and increase margins everywhere, making reusability much more attainable.Neutron will be powered by an entirely new rocket engine, Archimedes. The rationale for the cycle change from the original gas generator was that they could not get the performance they needed through all the throttle points that a reusable rocket needs, without pushing the turbine temperature and other factors beyond their preset limits.
The engine is mostly 3D printed, with some of the biggest 3D printers in the world. There are both sea-level and vacuum variants. Design Īrchimedes is presented as a highly reusable liquid-propellant engine using methane and liquid oxygen in a oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle.
#ARCHIMEDES AS A SPACE PIONEER FULL#
They expected to start preburner testing in that or following quarter, hopefully starting full engine testing at Stennis before 2023 ends, and hoped to be able to launch in 2024. It was disclosed they would use the Stennis Space Center A-3 Test stand for development testing. It was also implied, but not confirmed, that the engine would be built in the Virginia, USA factory. Meanwhile the vacuum optimized version, would have a maximum thrust of 890 kN (200,000 lbf), an isp of 367s and the same throttling capabilities of 50% of maximum thrust. The presentation stated that the sea level version would have a maximum thrust of 730 kN (160,000 lbf) with a vacuum isp of 329s and would be able to throttle to a 50% of maximum thrust. In the September 21st, 2022 Investor Day Presentation, the engine design had changed to an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle. Beck stated that Archimedes would be manufactured in New Zealand and its very simple design had "all the things you want when you have to build an engine that can be reused over and over again.” In an interview published on CNBC website, Mr. It is expected to have its first hot-fire test during 2022. The same day, the Neutron page on Rocket Lab's website was updated specifying the thrust of the seven Archimedes used on the first stage as 5,960 kN (1,340,000 lbf) at sea level and a maximum thrust of 7,530 kN (1,690,000 lbf) and the upper stage's single vacuum optimized Archimedes at 1,110 kN (250,000 lbf).
He then stated that it had a thrust of 1 MN (220,000 lbf) and 320 seconds of specific impulse.
It was presented as a fully reusable, gas generator engine using LOX and methane as propellant, a departure from the company's previous Rutherford, which is electrically pump fed. History Īrchimedes was presented on Decemin a webcast by Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck. It is designed by aerospace company Rocket Lab for its Neutron rocket. 200,000 lbf (890 kN) (Vacuum version) Īrchimedes is a liquid-fuel rocket engine burning liquid oxygen and liquid methane in an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle.
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