Rocket Lab successfully test fires reused Rutherford engine

RETEST: Electron lifts off from Rocket Lab's Mahia space port in May. The Rutherford engine was successfully reused for the first time. Picture by Rocket Lab

Space company Rocket Lab has successfully test-fired a reused Rutherford first-stage engine for the first time, as it attempts to make its Electron launch vehicle the world's first reusable orbital small rocket.

Rocket Lab conducted the full-duration, full-thrust test fire of the refurbished Rutherford engine earlier this week at the company's engine test facility.

The engine was previously successfully launched to space from its Mahia space port and returned to Earth during Rocket Lab's recent recovery mission, “There And Back Again”, on May 2.

The mission was the first time Rocket Lab attempted a mid-air capture of Electron's first stage, using parachutes on the rocket to slow its descent from space before a helicopter plucked the rocket from the sky as it approached Earth's surface.

The Electron stage was ultimately released for a soft ocean splashdown before it was collected by ship and returned to Rocket Lab's production complex.

The refurbished Rutherford engine passed all of the same rigorous acceptance tests Rocket Lab performs for every engine, including 200 seconds of engine fire and multiple restarts.

Data from the test fire shows the engine produced full thrust of 21kNs within 1000 milliseconds of ignition and performed to the same standard of a newly built Rutherford engine.

This Rutherford engine will now continue as an engine life-leader for future Rutherford development.

“We have always been at the forefront of innovation with Electron, having pushed the boundaries of many technologies including carbon composites, electric turbo-pumps and 3D printed rocket engines,” Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck said.

“Now, we're leading the pack once again, bringing reusability to small launch vehicles.

“Being able to refly Electron with minimal refurbishment is the ultimate goal, so the fact that the recovered components on this engine performed on the test stand with minimal rework is further validation that we're on the right path.

“If we can achieve this high level of performance from engine components recovered from the ocean, then I'm optimistic and excited about what we can do when we bring back dry engines under a helicopter next time.”

Preparation for Rocket Lab's next recovery mission, which will include an attempt to catch Electron with a helicopter again but this time fly it back to land, is scheduled to launch before the end of the year.