Rocket Lab Return On Investment
The Return On Investment is an oceanic rocket landing platform operated by New Zealand-U.S. spaceflight company Rocket Lab for catching the reusable first stage of its Neutron spacelaunch rocket.[1][2][3]
History
The flat-top barge was the Oceanus from Canal Barge Inc. out of New Orleans before being converted to being a rocket landing deck. It was named after the Ancient Greek Titan God Oceanus, the personification of the Oceanus River, upon which the world floats.[4]
Conversion to being Return On Investment rocket landing platform began in 2025 for operations starting in 2026, at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport to support the Neutron rocket launches from Rocket Lab's Rocket Launch Complex 3.[4][5] A contract for the conversion work was awarded to Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana in July 2025, for work at their Amelia, La. shipyard.[6][7]
Specifications
- Type: Deck barge
- Length: 400 feet (120 m)
- Width: 105 feet (32 m)
- Depth: 25 feet (7.6 m)
- Maximum draft: 21 feet (6.4 m)
- Net tonnage: 2373
- Gross tonnage: 7913
- Deadweight tonnage: 17444
- Built: 2010
- Stationkeeping thrusters
- Autonomous ground support equipment for securing rocket to barge
References
- ↑ Clarence Oxford (28 February 2025). "Rocket Lab Unveils 'Return On Investment' Ocean Platform for Neutron Rocket Landings". Space Daily.
- ↑ Jeff Foust (28 February 2025). "Rocket Lab reaffirms 2025 first launch of Neutron". SpaceNews.
- ↑ "Rocket Lab USA unveils plan for rocket retrieval barge". Baird Maritime. 28 February 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Rocket Lab Reveals Ocean Platform for Neutron Rocket Landings at Sea". Business Wire. 27 February 2025. 20250227129978.
- ↑ Rich Smith (10 March 2025). "Precisely How Bad Is Rocket Lab's Neutron News?". Motely Fool.
- ↑ Eric Haun (10 July 2025). "Bollinger Shipyards chosen to convert barge for Rocket Lab landings". Workboat.
- ↑ Vivienne Machi (11 July 2025). "Rocket Lab Taps Bollinger Shipyards For Sea-Based Landing Barge". Aviation Week. Aviation Week Network.
- ↑ Matt Kremenetsky (3 March 2025). ""Return on Investment": Rocket Lab Unveils Sea-Based Landing Platform for Its 3D Printed Rockets". 3D Print. 3DR Holdings. 316694.
- ↑ "Rocket Lab To Retrofit Barge For Sea Landings". Waterways Journal. 7 March 2025.
- ↑ "Oceanus". US Maritime Intelligence. 301640. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ↑ "Oceanus". Maritime Directory. 8327. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
Further reading
- Murielle Baker (27 February 2025). "Rocket Lab Reveals Ocean Platform for Neutron Rocket Landings at Sea". RocketLab.
External links
- Official Rocket Lab Photos. "Neutron Development". RocketLab. aHBqjAV96v – via Flickr.
See also
- return on investment (ROI)
- SpaceX autonomous spaceport drone ships ("Just Read the Instructions", "Of Course I Still Love You", "A Shortfall of Gravitas")
- Blue Origin Landing Platform Vessel 1 Jacklyn
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