
美國新創航太公司Cowboy Space公開新型「大鐵」(Big Iron)運載火箭設計,規劃將火箭最上層化身為軌道太空資料中心,預計2028年首飛。
美國新創航太公司Cowboy Space推出「大鐵」(Big Iron)中型運載火箭設計,規劃將火箭上面級留在軌道作為太空資料中心,搭載輝達Vera Rubin架構GPU,預計2028年首飛,並鎖定美國國家安全太空發射市場。
AI-generated summary
美國新創航太公司Cowboy Space因找不到足夠運載火箭來建置太空資料中心,決定自行開發名為「大鐵」的運載火箭。
美國新創航太公司 Cowboy Space 推出一款新型火箭,規劃將火箭上面級留在軌道,直接作為太空資料中心,並搭載輝達(NVIDIA)Vera Rubin架構 GPU。這款名為「大鐵」(Big Iron)的中型運載火箭預計2028年首飛,公司也希望藉此進軍美國國家安全太空發射市場。
美國媒體《Axios》27日報導,Big Iron全長約86公尺,比SpaceX的獵鷹9號(Falcon 9)還高。Cowboy Space 營運長雅菲(Joseph Yaffe)表示,公司目標是在2027年底前完成首枚火箭的製造。
這款火箭的特殊之處在於上面級的用途。依照公司公布的設計,上面級配備可展開的散熱器,進入軌道後將留在太空,作為兆瓦級資料中心運作,而非只負責將酬載送入軌道。公司規劃配置5個運算機架,採用輝達Vera Rubin架構GPU。
Big Iron的可回收助推器則預計使用9具名為「克萊茲代爾」(Clydesdale)的液態氧與甲烷引擎。公司也規劃讓上面級依任務需求更換酬載模組,除了資料中心,也可改為提供兆瓦級電力,或用來部署衛星。
Cowboy Space執行長兼創辦人巴特(Baiju Bhatt)表示,公司原本希望在太空建置資料中心,後來發現能將相關設施送入軌道的火箭不足,因此決定自行開發運載火箭。Big Iron 也將支援公司名為「奔牛」(Stampede)的衛星星座計畫,規模目標為2萬枚衛星。
自造運載火箭支援衛星網 鎖定國防發射大單
軍事市場是另一個發展方向。雅菲向《Axios》表示,公司已開始與相關人士洽談,希望爭取美國國家安全太空發射(NSSL)業務。這項計畫負責採購將美國國家安全相關酬載送入太空的發射服務,Cowboy Space則仍處於爭取機會的階段。
《Axios》指出,SpaceX 據報計畫讓獵鷹9號逐步退役,可能改變中型運載火箭市場的供應情勢。不過,美國太空軍目前仍持續採購獵鷹9號發射任務,NSSL也有多家供應商參與競爭。Cowboy Space能否讓Big Iron進入這個市場,仍取決於火箭研發進度及後續資格與合約程序。
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Cowboy Space在2027年底前完成首枚火箭製造
Possible · Within months
「大鐵」運載火箭於2028年進行首飛
Possible · Within months

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