Rocket Labs says it has 30 launches lined up starting in 2015 When it comes to blasting satellites into Low Earth Orbit, cost can be a major detriment. A company based in New Zealand called Rocket Labs is looking to fix that problem – at least for smaller satellite launches—with a carbon composite, 11-ton , 18 meter (about 60ft) tall rocket known as Electron that it says can blast payloads of about 100kg (about 220lbs) into LEO for about $5 million. The company says comparable flights would cost around $100 million. +More on Network World: + “Along with benefits for commercial enterprises, cheaper and faster space access has the potential to lead to more accurate weather prediction, global high speed Internet access, as well as real-time monitoring of the impacts of human development. The innovation behind Electron will release the limitations on launching small satellites. Our vision at Rocket Lab is to make space commercially viable and more accessible than ever, doing what the Ford Model T did for consumer automobiles,” said company CEO Peter Beck. Beck founded Rocket Labs in 2007 and the outfit has developed rocket propellant technology for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Office of Naval Research. Electron will use liquid oxygen and kerosene that will fuel up nine of the company’s Rutherford engines –named after the famous New Zealand scientist Ernest Rutherford – strapped together on Electron. With nine Rutherford engines on the first stage, Electron can sustain a complete engine loss before launch and still complete its mission, making it one of few launch vehicles with such capability, the company stated. +More on Network World: NASA forming $3M satellite communication, propulsion competition+ Rocket Labs says launches can be slotted within weeks, rather than years of planning most conventional launches require. It claims to have 30 launches from its private launch facility in New Zealand already set to go next year. Khosla Ventures of Silicone Valley is Rocket Lab’s principal funder. Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: nwwlayer8 and on Facebook. Check out these other hot stories: FTC urges mobile carriers to help send cramming charges packing NASA looking for out-of-this-world Mars communications services FTC takes out “tech support” scammers; $5.1 million in fines, retribution Finding life in space by looking for extraterrestrial pollution Dumping an open source Honeypot on Rachel: FTC reloads on liquidating robocallers Cisco counterfeiter gets 37 months in prison, forfeits $700,000 DARPA initiates reusable, aircraft-like spaceship development Related content news analysis FBI/IC3: Vile $5B business e-mail scam continues to breed FBI/IC3 reports over 40,000 worldwide victims and $5 billion in the latest reckoning By Michael Cooney May 08, 2017 5 mins Security news analysis Ultimate geek dream? NASA challenges you to jump on the FORTRAN bandwagon! NASA opens High Performance Fast Computing Challenge By Michael Cooney May 05, 2017 4 mins Government Open Source Enterprise Applications news analysis Fragmented, disorganized IT systems thwart feds ability to track visas DHS OIG says ineffective IT process has contributed to a backlog of more than 1.2 million visa overstay cases. By Michael Cooney May 04, 2017 5 mins Analytics Data Center Security news analysis TSA: “As you can imagine, live anti-tank rounds are strictly prohibited altogether.” TSA finds live anti-tank round in carry-on bag By Michael Cooney Apr 28, 2017 2 mins Security PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe