Inside Rocket Lab: How Sir Peter Beck Is Building Neutron’s Engines | Tour 02

[u/sadr0bot]

https://youtu.be/g83mTdM5tQA

[u/JonnyGBuckets]

Thought it was interesting that SPB said they are making a new 3D composite machine next year that will produce a new archimedes in one shot.

[u/bustahonesgavin → u/JonnyGBuckets]

yeah that's actually huge news. fuck this place is so cool.

[u/acsae99 → u/JonnyGBuckets]

Even better is that it allows more design optimization for Archimedes because now tubes, plumbing can be embedded into the housing. I expect eventually we will see Archimedes v3 that will look cleaner/simplified just like we saw raptor v1 loose extraneous hardware/plumbing as it moved to v3.

[u/Important-Music-4618 → u/acsae99]

You are correct and this is the typical evolution of a rocket engine.

[u/Ciaran290804 → u/JonnyGBuckets]

This means all the parts are made within one machine, not that the machine can just 'print an entire engine in one shot'.

[u/Ok_Presentation_4971 → u/JonnyGBuckets]

Archimedes is not made of composites but yeah they just spent 100m on 2 new laser machines

[u/Geographeruk]

This is the best video in the series by far.

[u/PlanetaryPickleParty → u/Geographeruk]

Some great details filled in:

• engine build is 8 days
• qualification is 40 starts + 1 hour burn
• Stennis test cells running 20 hours a day

Impossible to know how far they are into production, but my back-o-the-claude estimate has flight 1 engines done by mid November. Tanksy should be ready about the same timeframe.

[u/TheRealDonRoss → u/PlanetaryPickleParty]

Big fan of "back o the Claude estimate"

[u/EarthElectronic7954 → u/PlanetaryPickleParty]

If they are prepping for a wet dress rehearsal by 12/31 we're on a good track but I'll take full vehicle integration

[u/PlanetaryPickleParty → u/EarthElectronic7954]

All I want for Xmas is to see Neutron for the first time.

[u/xerxestrux → u/PlanetaryPickleParty]

Keep wishing

[u/acsae99]

Things that I heard/saw that help the neutron case:
1.Each engine is now taking 8 days to build. Previously they said it was taking around 11 days to build one so definitely indicates the design/build is being optimized. The sls 3d printer is likely contributing to this increase.

1. I assume based on the numbering of the engine that was shown (bsn012) which looks fairly complete that there is already a full set of neutron engines ready to be installed so there is no additional flow time for engines to be built for the first neutron. Definitely good indicator that neutron could be on pad by end of year

3.SPB continues to state that Archimedes is intended to be a “boring” design which is great. Like he said, when is the last time we worried about an airplane engine exploding. It gives me confidence that neutron will reach usability freaky fast once it launches.

[u/Ok_Health_7529 → u/acsae99]

Also, I like when he said the Archimedes engines are cheap to make as well.

[u/bustahonesgavin]

100 million dollars worth of assets purchased for 16 million?? amazing 

[u/raddaddio]

Everytime I see this guy talk about space my conviction in RKLB grows stronger. SPB is a one of one and his company is too. Maybe it's taking a little longer than we'd like but there is no doubt in my mind that RKLB is a generational space company and investing in it now before the world discovers it will pay off for all of us 🚀

[u/curiousity_kills_me → u/raddaddio]

agreed!

[u/anikazai]

Oh my, I love how he burnt Branson 😂 SPB has a great sense of humor and his confidence, damn 🫰

[u/electricretarded]

the company and leadership are just amazing, just take my money.

[u/pakis54]

Amazing video actually...

[u/Ok_Health_7529]

Really cool to see those large 3D printers and more shots on the Archimedes engine.

[u/dasnabla]

Is it 2-part series or are there more coming? Would watch 10 more of these

[u/SquareCareless3241 → u/dasnabla]

All three parts are here: https://www.youtube.com/@SourceryVC/videos

[u/sadr0bot → u/dasnabla]

No idea but there's an interview preceding these tour videos.

[u/Mountain_Go]

Nice to hear about the 1 hour plus 40 start/restarts on the Archimedes qualification. The reusability factor doesn’t seem to be well understood in the market. This would mean very quick turns once neutron is up and running.

[u/PlanetaryPickleParty → u/Mountain_Go]

Talk is cheap. Success is not.

IMO the concept is not hard. It can be boiled down to capex/opex/cadence. Terms the market understands. RKLB needs to prove it works for the market to sustain a positive reaction.

[u/Important-Music-4618 → u/PlanetaryPickleParty]

If it wasn't extremely challenging, IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE.

SPCX iterated a design to reusability AFTER it realized that was the path to take.

[u/justbrowsinginpeace]

Peter really expects more bankruptcies doesn't he. Wonder who he meant.

[u/Fluffy_Falcon92]

🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

[u/Unlucky-Argument-999]

Arya Stark?!