One of the main competitors of the Falcon 9 rocket is set to conduct its inaugural flight.
Executives from the American company Rocket Lab have announced that the inaugural launch of the partially reusable Neutron rocket is scheduled for late 2025. This comes despite an earlier report suggesting that the launch might be postponed until 2027.
2025-03-03 10:00:37https://naked-science.ru/community/1034771
The partially reusable medium-class rocket Neutron, which is considered one of the main competitors to SpaceX's Falcon 9, is slowly but steadily moving towards its first flight.
Recently, Rocket Lab conducted tests on the rocket's fairing doors and acquired a barge that will serve as a landing platform. The new vessel, named Return on Investment, measures approximately 120 meters in length and will be converted into a landing platform by 2026.
In its inaugural test flight, Neutron will perform a soft landing on water.