Turn and Burn 💎💎 E-2 Block 1 has successfully completed a 222-second gimbaled endurance demonstration test at nominal operating conditions. Testing will continue beyond this engine's rated service life, with progressively higher gimbal rates and larger gimbal angles to further validate durability and performance. Propellants: LOX/Kerosene Thrust: 23k lbf (10.4 tf) Isp Sea Level: 290 s Isp Vacuum: 327 s Isp Vac Version: 365 s Cycle: Ox-Rich Staged Combustion

Footage of the turret shows the two Kalashnikov rifles mounted closely to each other on a frame attached to a pan-and-tilt gimbal, which in turn rests on a four-wheeled platform.

Rocket Lab Robotics will be supporting @uarizona's EMILIA-3D lunar instrument with a single axis instrument gimbal to allow the payload camera (provided by @NAU) to generate 3D thermal models of the lunar terrain. The gimbal is a completely integrated avionic and scan system qualified to operate within the lunar environment and resilient to exposure to the lunar regolith. More details:

The team continues to rack up test time as another E-2 Block 1 mission duty cycle, featuring continuous rapid gimbaling, is now in the books.  As the E-2 program approaches 10,000 seconds of cumulative run time, testing continues to characterize engine life and further improve reliability. Up next the team plans to increase gimbal rates, conduct frequency sweeps, and test an alternative fuel aimed at increasing performance while reducing cost.

Hamilton carved i² = j² = k² = ijk = −1 into Broom Bridge in 1843. Quaternions extend the complex plane into four dimensions and encode 3D rotations without gimbal lock. Graphics engines, robots, spacecraft and VR headsets all rely on them to stay oriented. Abstract algebra now keeps the physical world from tumbling.

HONOR's Robot Phone just landed in Guangzhou! The world's first "robot phone" packs a 200MP camera on a 4D titanium gimbal—extends, rotates 360°, and auto-tracks subjects like a pocket-sized camera operator! Partnered with ARRI for pro-grade cinematic color and workflows. AI assistant handles cross-app tasks too. Influencers call it "magical" and "game-changing"—could this reshape mobile photography?

Another E-2 Block 1 mission duty cycle is in the books as the team continues increasing thrust vector control rates, gimbal range, and cycle count. This Block 1 engine has now surpassed 2X its rated service life. Testing will continue to further characterize engine life and thrust vector control performance as the team prepares for engine qualification.

E-2 Block 1 has successfully completed a 200-second mission duty cycle test at nominal operating conditions. This design upgrade reduces mass, simplifies manufacturing, consolidates vehicle interfaces, and incorporates thrust vector control.  The next phase of testing will include gimballed engine test fires, followed by engine qualification. E-2 is the highest performance LOX/kerosene engine in the small launch class. Propellants: LOX/Kerosene Thrust: 23k lbf (10.4 tf) Isp Sea Level: 290 s Isp Vacuum: 327 s Isp Vac Version: 365 s Cycle: Ox-Rich Staged Combustion

E-2 Thrust Vector Control testing is underway! This test includes frequency sweeps starting at a maximum gimbal angle of ±7 degrees, using hardware from a previous engine revision. After completing additional testing on the component stand, the actuator will be deployed to the test site for its first gimballed test fire.