Hey, space enthusiasts! 🌌
Chinese rocket startup Deep Blue Aerospace is shooting for the stars again! After a recent test flight didn't go exactly as planned, they're ready to bounce back with another high-altitude vertical recovery mission in November.
Last Sunday, their reusable rocket Nebula-1 almost nailed its first high-altitude vertical recovery flight test. It completed 10 out of 11 key tasks—pretty impressive, right? But, in the final moments, the rocket had a hiccup that led to a fracture in its body.
So, what went down? According to Zhao Ya, the executive president at Deep Blue, there was an issue with the engine's thrust control servo tracking command. This caused the rocket to land a bit too high, so they had to trigger a safety shutdown, which unfortunately damaged the rocket's body.
But don't count them out! 🚀 Zhao sees this as a valuable lesson. \"The test gave us crucial data and experience,\" she said. \"It helps us spot problems and improve the rocket's performance and reliability.\"
The rest of the 179-second flight was smooth sailing. The rocket aced the takeoff, ascent, and descent stages, even landing precisely at the center of the recovery field. Talk about hitting your mark!
Aerospace expert Shou Tuo commented that the test showed Nebula-1's overall design is solid, and its liquid oxygen/kerosene engine is reliable.
And guess what? The internet is cheering them on! One user on Weibo, Cao Meng-Aerospace, said, \"I have always felt that gaining knowledge is more important than the result. Let's continue to work hard.\" 💪
So, keep your eyes on the skies this November as Deep Blue Aerospace gears up for their next mission. It's all about progress and persistence in the quest for space exploration! 🌠
Reference(s):
China aerospace startup sets for rocket vertical recovery missions
cgtn.com
