Posts: 45082 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-02-2020 04:37 PM
From a Rocket Lab press release about its upcoming 16th Electron launch:
A mass simulator will also be fixed to this mission's Kick Stage in the form of a 3D printed gnome created for Valve's Gabe Newell by multi-award-winning design studio Weta Workshop, the creative studio behind "Lord of the Rings," "Avatar," and "Mulan."
The unique space component is additively manufactured into the shape of Half-Life gaming icon Gnome Chompski. The mission serves as an homage to the innovation and creativity of gamers worldwide, and also aims to test and qualify a novel 3D printing technique that could be employed for future spacecraft components.
Valve president, Gabe Newell, will be donating one dollar to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship Children’s Hospital for every person who watches the launch online here.
More about the mass simulator Gnome Chompski:
The 150 mm gnome will remain attached to the Kick Stage during all mission phases and will burn up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere during the de-orbiting process.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45082 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-02-2020 04:41 PM
From Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck (via Twitter):
Even gnomes go though full structural analysis and acceptance testing.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4705 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-02-2020 04:52 PM
Not the first Gnome in space though...
thisismills Member
Posts: 371 From: Michigan Registered: Mar 2012
posted 11-02-2020 09:37 PM
Here's one from STS-115...others?
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4705 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-02-2020 10:00 PM
Soyuz MS-05 zero gravity indicator. Visible at around 0430 top of frame.
posted 11-02-2020 04:37 PM
advertisement