Rocket Lab selects Bollinger for transformation of barge to Neutron landing platform
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Long Beach, Calif.-headquartered launch service and space systems specialist Rocket Lab has awarded Bollinger Shipyards a contract to support the build out of an ocean landing platform for its Neutron reusable rocket.<\/p>\n
As we reported earlier,<\/a> back in March, Rocket Lab revealed that it had secured the 400 x 105 foot deck barge Oceanus <\/em>https:\/\/www.canalbarge.com\/pdfs\/cb_Spec_sheets\/Spec-Sheet-Oceanus.pdf<\/a>from Canal Barge Company for conversion to the landing platform Return On Investment<\/em><\/p>\n Modification and fit-out of Rocket Lab technology on Return On Investment<\/em> has begun and is taking place at Bollinger Shipyards, primarily at its shipyard in Amelia, La., with delivery of the vessel to Rocket Lab expected in early 2026.<\/p>\n Bollinger will draw on its extensive experience in marine engineering to complete the Rocket Lab-led design of the rocket-landing platform that includes autonomous ground support equipment, blast shielding for on-deck equipment protection during Neutron landings, and station-keeping thrusters for the platform to hold its position during Neutron return-to-Earth missions at sea.<\/p>\n Reusability is key to Rocket Lab\u2019s development of Neutron. To meet the increasing demand for regular and reliable launch to space for large single satellites, multi-satellite constellation deployment, and high assurance national security missions, Rocket Lab expects to quickly scale Neutron and double its launch capacity annually once it enters service \u2013 with Return On Investment <\/em>integral to that effort.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab\u2019s development of recovery infrastructure in Louisiana builds upon its existing U.S. expansion plans for Neutron\u2019s operations and development, with Return On Investment to be operated out of the U.S. East Coast to support timely delivery and return of Neutron rockets to the launch site on Wallops Island, Va.<\/p>\n \u201cNeutron\u2019s ability to return to Earth on Return On Investment <\/em>and launch again and again will be foundational to its success,\u201d says Rocket Lab vice president \u2013 Neutron, Shaun D\u2019Mello. \u201cWith Bollinger\u2019s extensive experience in marine engineering and shipbuilding, they have been selected to deliver this critical project. We\u2019re looking forward to working with Bollinger to create the conditions to modernize Louisiana\u2019s shipyard capabilities to meet the demands of the aerospace industry\u2019s cutting-edge capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBollinger is proud to partner with Rocket Lab on a project that showcases both the ingenuity and innovation of American shipbuilding and the future of space flight,\u201d says Bollinger president and CEO Ben Bordelon. \u201cAt Bollinger, we\u2019ve spent decades building some of the most advanced vessels in the world. We\u2019re honored to have been selected to bring our deep expertise and experience in marine engineering and fabrication to a program that pushes the boundaries of what\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Rocket Lab\u2019s new reusable rocket Neutron is a next-generation challenger to the medium-lift launch industry. Neutron\u2019s advanced architecture includes carbon composite for all of the rocket\u2019s major structures, and an integrated system that brings Neutron\u2019s Stage 1 and payload fairings back to Earth as a single stage \u2013 fully optimized for reuse and launch frequency to deliver cost-effective, reliable, and responsive launch for commercial and government missions. Capable of delivering a 13-ton payload to space before returning to Earth, Neutron is powered by Rocket Lab\u2019s newly-developed Archimedes engine, an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle engine capable of a combined 1,450,000 pounds of thrust across nine engines on Neutron\u2019s reusable Stage 1. Neutron will fly from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 (LC-3) located at Wallops Island from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS).<\/p>\n The post Rocket Lab selects Bollinger for transformation of barge to Neutron landing platform<\/a> appeared first on Marine Log<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n