Space outfit Rocket Lab says its Hungry Hippo is ready to go into space, a fillip for the company\u2019s plans to fly its new Neutron launch vehicle.<\/p>\n
Hungry Hippo is a fairing \u2013 the nose cone used to protect payloads atop rockets from pressure and heat. Most rockets shed their fairings as they exit Earth\u2019s atmosphere, and the structures usually burn up or fall into the ocean.<\/p>\n
SpaceX recovers some of its fairings and re-uses them, to keep its costs low.<\/p>\n
Rocket Lab wants to go one better by making its fairings part of its planned Neutron rocket. The company\u2019s plan calls for its fairings to spring apart \u2013 while in flight \u2013 to create an aperture wide enough for the second stage rocket to exit. Once the second stage is on the way, Hungry Hippo\u2019s mouth will close, and the Neutron will return to Earth with the fairing intact.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how it looks in action, on a test rig.<\/p>\n
\n Youtube Video<\/a>\n<\/p>\n Rocket Lab published the video above in May. On Monday the company announced Hungry Hippo has successfully completed qualification and said the first unit is on its way to its Virginia launch facility to be used on Neutron\u2019s first launch. The company also posted some nice video of the fairing here<\/a>.<\/p>\n