Electron, two-stage orbital launch vehicle, Rocket Lab, New Zealand, Huntington Beach, California, USA

[Airicist]

Developer - Rocket Lab (https://pr.ai/showthread.php?16771)

Home page - rocketlabusa.com/electron (https://www.rocketlabusa.com/electron)

Electron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(rocket)) on Wikipedia

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/ZFnTpURe7UI

Electron arrives at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1

Published on Feb 15, 2017

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/rxg4CHXRDy0

Electron rocket first flight, it’s a test 2017

Published on May 24, 2017


Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket was launched in its maiden flight from the Launch Complex 1, on the Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 25 May 2017, at 16:20 local time. The Electron is a two-stage orbital launch vehicle capable of launching a maximum payload of 225 kg. According to Peter Beck (CEO and founder of Rocket Lab), “We had a great first stage burn, stage separation, second stage ignition and fairing separation. We didn’t quite reach orbit and we’ll be investigating why”.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/PF9vfioP3fs

It's a test - lift off!

Published on May 25, 2017

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/VA_8HPsua0c

It's a test - launch day video

Published on May 25, 2017


It's a Test - Rocket Lab's Electron
16:20pm Thursday 25 May (NZST)

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/QfBCuK6wEYA

Rocket Lab Electron “It’s Business Time” launch

Published on Nov 10, 2018


Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket first commercial launch, nicknamed “It’s Business Time”, was launched from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 11 November 2018, at 03:00 UTC (16:00 NZDT). It’s Business Time launched two Lemur-2 satellites from Spire Global; a GeoOptics Inc. satellite, built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems; IRVINE01, an educational payload from the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program (ICSP); NABEO, a drag sail technology demonstrator designed and built by High Performance Space Structure Systems GmBH; two Proxima satellites from Fleet Space Technologies.

Credit:
Photos and video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/KZwLJMPuos8

Rocket Lab Electron launches NASA ELaNa XIX

Published on Dec 15, 2018


Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launched NASA’s ELaNa XIX mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 16 December 2018, at 06:33 UTC (19:33 NZDT). NASA Venture Class Launch Service flight of the CubeSat Launch Initiative Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIX mission launched the following cubesats: Ceres and STF-1 (NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center), CubeSail (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), CHOMPTT (University of Florida), NMTSat (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology), DaVinci (North Idaho STEM Charter Academy), Rsat (U. S. Naval Academy), ISX (California Polytechnic State University), Shields-1 (NASA Langley Research Center), ALBus (NASA Glenn Research Center) and SHFT-1 (NASA JPL).

Credit:
Photos and video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/d2To1fIN6Ko

Electron launches DARPA R3D2 mission

Published on Mar 28, 2019


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched DARPA’s Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 28 March 2019, at 23:27 UTC (12:27 NZDT). R3D2 is designed to to space-qualify a new type of membrane reflectarray antenna.
Credits:
Photos courtesy of DARPA/Video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/ahVDVWq_Ei4

STP-27RD Launch - 05/05/2019

Streamed live May 5, 2019

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/eXzmO5jZgS0

Electron launches STP-27RD

Published on May 4, 2019


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the STP-27RD mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 5 May 2019, at 06:00 UTC (18:00 NZT). The STP-27RD payload (~180kg) consists of three experimental research and development satellites for the U.S. Air Force: SPARC-1, Falcon ODE and Harbinger satellites. The STP-27RD mission was nicknamed “That’s a funny looking cactus” by Rocket Lab.
Credits: Images and video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/idKCy8LdyKo

Make It Rain Launch - 06/29/2019

Streamed live Jun 29, 2019


Lift-off of the Make It Rain mission for Spaceflight occurred at 04:30 UTC on June 29 2019 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/NcBNPMZ-_zY

Electron launches Make It Rain mission

Published on Jun 28, 2019


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the Make It Rain mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 29 June 2019, at 04:30 UTC (16:30 NZST). The Make It Rain mission launched seven satellites, including BlackSky’s Global-3 microsat, two U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Prometheus satellites and Melbourne Space Program’s ACRUX-1 CubeSat. The total mission payload mass was 80 kg.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/enndCzvZpZk

Electron is going reusable

Published on Aug 6, 2019


Rocket Lab has detailed plans to recover and re-fly Electron's first stage to support increased launch frequency for small satellites.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/OUWZO8gha74

Electron launches four satellites

Published on Aug 19, 2019


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Look Ma, No Hands” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 19 August 2019, at 12:12 UTC (20 August, 00:12 NZST). The Look Ma, No Hands mission launched four satellites, two for UNSEENLABS, one for BlackSky and one for the United States Air Force Space Command.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/wJg20I0o50U

Electron “As The Crow Flies” launch

Oct 16, 2019


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “As The Crow Flies” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 17 October 2019, at 01:22 UTC (14: 22 NZDT). The “As The Crow Flies” mission launched a single microsat for satellite manufacturer and operator Astro Digital.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/dyPzrYDW8A8

Electron “Running Out Of Fingers” launch

Dec 6, 2019


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Running Out Of Fingers” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 6 December 2019, at 08:18 UTC (21:18 NZDT). “Running Out Of Fingers” is Electron’s 10th mission, with six PocketQube microsatellites from Alba Orbital and one payload from ALE Co. Tokyo.
Credits: Images and video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/af-PplDIkbc

Birds of a feather launch - 01/31/2020

Jan 30, 2020


Lift-off of the Birds Of A Feather mission occurred at 02:56 UTC on January 31 2019 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/OkajURO7vlw

Electron “Birds of a Feather” launch

Jan 30, 2020


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Birds of a Feather” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 31 January 2020, at 02:56 UTC (15:56 NZDT). “Birds of a Feather” is a dedicated mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and Electron’s 11th mission.
Credits: Images and video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/VRfm6RGVHf8

Rocket Lab - Don't Stop Me Now Launch 06/13/2020

June 13, 2020


Lift-off of the 'Don't Stop Me Now mission occurred at 05:12 UTC on June 13 2020 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/XbhQL-Hd57U

Electron “Don’t Stop Me Now” launch

Jun 12, 2020


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Don’t Stop Me Now” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 13 June 2020, at 05:12 UTC (17:12 NZDT). “Don’t Stop Me Now” is a rideshare mission to launch five small satellites (ANDESITE for NASA, three NRO payloads, M2 Pathfinder satellite for the University of New South Wales Canberra Space) and Electron’s 12th mission.
Credits: Images and video courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/5ZcZoDFYjXc

Rocket Lab - Pics Or It Didn't Happen Launch

Jul 6, 2020

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/jMQrIePvN7g

Rocket Lab loses vehicle after broadcast - Watch it launch!

Jul 4, 2020


Rocket Lab's "Pics Or It Didn't Happen" mission ended in failure when there was an anomaly during the second stage burn on July 4, 2020. The Electron rocket was carrying payloads for Planet, Canon Electronics, and In-Space Missions.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/xNtrrPbn-cI

Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab, made a brief statement about his mission today

Jul 5, 2020

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/FPIhI5mRDRI

Rocket Lab - I Can't Believe It's Not Optical 08/31/2020

Aug 30, 2020


Lift-off of the 'I Can't Believe It's Not Optical' mission occurred at 03:05 UTC on August 31 2020 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/Dggaqx-hSjk

Electron “I Can't Believe It's Not Optical” launch

Aug 30, 2020


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “I Can't Believe It's Not Optical” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 31 August 2020, at 03:05 UTC (15:05 NZT). “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical” is a dedicated mission for Capella Space with the payload “Sequoia”, a single 100 kg class microsatellite which will be the first publicly available satellite in the company’s commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation. The mission is Electron’s 14th launch.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/eZGI_lHGltA

Rocket Lab - Return To Sender Launch 11/20/2020

Nov 19, 2020


Lift-off of the 'Return To Sender' rideshare mission occurred at 02:20 UTC on November 11 2020 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 Pad A on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/NK3rUwGMW8g

Electron “Return to Sender” launch

Nov 19, 2020


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Return to Sender” mission from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 20 November 2020, at 02:20 UTC (15:20 NZT). “Return to Sender” is a rideshare mission with 30 satellites launched to a sun-synchronous orbit at 500 km altitude. The mission is Electron’s 16th launch and the first to attempt to bring Electron’s first stage back to Earth under a parachute system for a controlled water landing, before collection by a recovery vessel.

[Airicist]

Article "Rocket Lab will launch 30 satellites and attempt a booster recovery today: Watch live (https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-launch-booster-recovery-return-to-sender-webcast)"

by Mike Wall
November 18, 2020

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/u5wmrGriVX0

Rocket Lab - They go up so fast launch 03/22/2021

Streamed live on Mar 23, 2021


Lift-off of the 'They Go Up So Fast' rideshare mission 22:30​ UTC on March 22 2021 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/Zw3sIUyfSfc

Rocket Lab running out of toes launch

Streamed live May 15, 2021

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/SF0QBW_zSl8

Electron launches two BlackSky satellites

May 15, 2021


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Running Out Of Toes” mission, two of BlackSky’s 60 kg class satellites, from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 15 May 2021, at 10:08 UTC (22:08 NZT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 20th Electron launch overall and the second of three planned ocean splashdown recovery missions.
Credits: Photos and video footage courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/AEJ41CDwYyM

Electron launches Monolith

Jul 29, 2021


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “It’s a Little Chile Up Here” mission, the Monolith satellite for the United States Space Force (USSF) Space Test Program (STP), from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 29 July 2021, at 06:00 UTC (18:00

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/471JoJ544P4

Electron launches “Love At First Insight”

Nov 18, 2021


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Love At First Insight” mission, two BlackSky small satellites, from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 18 November 2021, at 01:38 UTC (14:38 NZT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch overall.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/XMTZSGX--6U

Electron launches “A Data With Destiny”

Dec 9, 2021


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “A Data With Destiny” mission, two BlackSky satellites, from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 9 December 2021, at 00:02 UTC (13:02 NZT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 23rd Electron launch overall.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/sgnKdpRpPFE

Electron launches “The Owl’s Night Continues”

Feb 28, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “The Owl’s Night Continues” mission, the StriX-β satellite for Synspective’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation, from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 28 February 2022, at 20:22 UTC (1 March, at 09:35 NZDT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 24th Electron launch overall. This is the first launch from Rocket Lab’s second launch pad, Pad B, at Launch Complex 1.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/dtzO9KR0vJY

Electron launches “Without Mission A Beat”

Apr 2, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Without Mission A Beat” mission, two BlackSky satellites, from Launch Complex 1 Pad A on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 2 April 2022, at 12:42 UTC (3 April, at 01:41 NZDT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 25th Electron launch overall.
Credits: Photos and video footage courtesy of Rocket Lab

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/lc6RfKlM4QU

Electron launches “There And Back Again” and Electron first stage recovery

May 3, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “There And Back Again” mission, 34 small satellites to a Sun-synchronous orbit, from Launch Complex 1 Pad A on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 2 May 2022, at 22:49 UTC (3 May, at 10:49 NZST). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 26th Electron launch overall. For the first time, Rocket Lab successfully completed a mid-air capture of Electron’s first stage as it returns from space using parachutes and a helicopter.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/TuX5LIz3A1M

Electron launches NASA’s CAPSTONE to the Moon

Jun 28, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched NASA’s CAPSTONE mission to the Moon, from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 28 June 2022, at 09:55 UTC (21:55 NZST, 05:55 EDT). The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) CubeSat will be the first satellite to operate in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit around the Moon. The mission is Rocket Lab’s 27th Electron launch overall.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/SsS3lW61Qoo

Electron launches “Wise One Looks Ahead” (NROL-162)

Jul 13, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Wise One Looks Ahead” mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-162) from Launch Complex 1, Pad A, on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 13 July 2022, at 06:30 UTC (18:30 NZST, 02:30 EDT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 28th Electron launch overall.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/g6jisTuskf4

Electron launches “Antipodean Adventure” (NROL-199)

Aug 4, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Antipodean Adventure” mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-199) from Launch Complex 1, Pad B, on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 4 August 2022, at 05:00 UTC (17:00 NZST, 01:00 EDT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 29th Electron launch overall.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/yP4kE2OQEuA

Electron launches “The Owl Spreads Its Wings” (StriX-1)

Sep 15, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “The Owl Spreads Its Wings” mission, to deliver the StriX-1 satellite to low Earth orbit, from Launch Complex 1, Pad B, on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 15 September 2022, at 20:38 UTC (16 September, at 08:38 NZT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 30th Electron launch overall. StriX-1 is Synspective’s first commercial satellite for its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation to deliver imagery that can detect millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space, independent of weather conditions on Earth and at any time of the day or night.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/C1pYgEJpgy8

Electron launches “It Argos Up From Here” (Argos-4)

Oct 7, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “It Argos Up From Here” mission, to deliver to orbit the GAzelle satellite carrying Argos-4 (Advanced Data Collection System, A-DCS) hosted payload, from Launch Complex 1, Pad B, on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 7 October 2022, at 17:00 UTC (8 October, at 06:09 NZT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 31st Electron launch overall. The Argos-4 payload is part of the international Argos program that collects data from thousands of sensors and transmitters located around the world, used to provide a better understanding of Earth’s physical and biological environment, including its weather and climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as assist with maritime security, offshore pollution, and humanitarian assistance.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/TvHb8U65yP0

Electron launches “Catch Me If You Can” (MATS)

Nov 4, 2022


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Catch Me If You Can” mission, to deliver into orbit the Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy (MATS) satellite for the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), from Launch Complex 1, Pad B, on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on 4 November 2022, at 17:27 UTC (5 November, at 06:27 NZDT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 32nd Electron launch overall. According to SNSA, MATS is “designed to investigate atmospheric waves. It will do so by imaging variation in the light emitted by oxygen molecules at 100 km, as well as structures in the highest clouds in our atmosphere, the so-called noctilucent clouds, which form around 80 km”. The mid-air capture of Electron’s first stage was not successful.
Credit: Rocket Lab/Swedish National Space Agency
MATS launch

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/pHMguIVo8yU

Electron launches “Virginia is for Launch Lovers”

Jan 25, 2023


For the first time, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Virginia is for Launch Lovers” mission from the Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, on 24 January 2023, at 23:00 UTC (18:00 EST). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 33rd Electron launch overall. The “Virginia is for Launch Lovers” mission will deploy three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360. The mission was Electron’s first launch from Wallops.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/XZTzLIk2j-Y

Electron launches “Stronger Together”

Mar 17, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Stronger Together” mission from the Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, on 16 March 2023, at 22:38 UTC (18:38 EDT). The mission is Rocket Lab’s 34th Electron launch overall ans the second launch from Virginia, USA. The “Stronger Together” mission will deploy two more Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites for Capella Space.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/OhE1tZ6XtuE

Electron launches “The Beat Goes On”

Mar 24, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched “The Beat Goes On” mission from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 24 March 2023, at 09:14 UTC (22:14 NZDT). “The Beat Goes On” mission will deploy two BlackSky high-resolution, multi-spectral, Gen-2 satellites. As a secondary mission, Rocket Lab plans to recover Electron’s first stage after it parachutes back to Earth and splashes down in the ocean.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/n1gkw-3vCCk

Electron launches NASA TROPICS

May 8, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Rocket Like a Hurricane” mission, the first pair of CubeSats for NASA’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS), from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 8 May 2023, at 01:00 UTC (13:00 NZST).

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/e0jhGPe5F9A

Electron launches NASA TROPICS, 26 May 2023

May 26, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Coming To A Storm Near You” mission, the second pair of CubeSats for NASA’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS), from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 26 May 2023, at 03:46 UTC (15:46 NZST).

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/_NYFl0YtZjM

Electron launches seven satellites

Jul 18, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Baby Come Back” mission (seven satellites: four NASA Starling CubeSats, Telesat LEO 3 demonstration satellite, two Spire Global GNSS-RO 3U satellites), from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 18 July 2023, at 01:27 UTC (13:27 NZST). As a secondary mission, Rocket Lab plans to recover Electron’s first stage after it parachutes back to Earth and splashes down in the ocean.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/tq07-Rdb1c4?si=JGrFFsOLF5LNmJ3L

Electron launches Acadia-1

Aug 24, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “We Love The Nightlife” mission, Capella Space’s Acadia-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 23 August 2023, at 23:45 UTC (24 August, at 11:45 NZST).

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/YU4fkl5CLrg?si=IpCO_P8k8CTaswIg

Electron launches Acadia-2 (second stage anomaly)

Sep 19, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “We Will Never Desert You” mission, Capella Space’s Acadia-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 19 September 2023, at 06:55 UTC (18:55 NZST). Electron’s second stage experienced an anomaly and the mission was lost.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/RyoB3CZAypY?si=CKWL_WeRVCqN2Zh-

Electron launches QPS-SAR-5 “TSUKUYOMI-I”

Dec 15, 2023


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “The Moon God Awakens” mission, iQPS’s QPS-SAR-5 satellite named “TSUKUYOMI-I”, from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 15 December 2023, at 04:05 UTC (17:05 NZDT).

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/OuUvP04IZzg?si=gSQ0AOfo_2CwgaJd

Electron launches “Four Of A Kind” and Electron first stage splashdown

Jan 31, 2024


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Four Of A Kind” mission, four NorthStar Earth & Space (NorthStar) Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellites, from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 31 January 2023, at 06:34 UTC (19:34 NZDT).
The four L.E.M.U.R. (Low Earth Multi-Use Receiver) satellites were built and will be operated by Spire Global, Inc’s (Spire). Electron’s first stage made a parachute-assisted splashdown.

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/5q65Ug0t_9U?si=WgKHqWchkNVrAd2F

Electron launches ADRAS-J

Feb 18, 2024


ADRAS-J launch: Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “On Closer Inspection” mission, the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite for Astroscale Japan Inc., from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 18 February 2024, at 14:52 UTC (19 February, at 03:52 NZDT). According to Astroscale, “The ADRAS-J mission will be the world’s first attempt to safely approach and characterize an existing piece of large debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and is the start of a full-fledged debris removal service”

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/njsX8TrzToU?si=d8DHWT2h6wbhHSyJ

Electron launches StriX-3

Mar 12, 2024


StriX-3 launch: Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Owl Night Long” mission, Synspective’s StriX-3 SAR satellite, from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 12 March 2024, at 15:03 UTC (13 March, at 04:03 NZDT). According to Astroscale, “The ADRAS-J mission will be the world’s first attempt to safely approach and characterize an existing piece of large debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and is the start of a full-fledged debris removal service”

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/SxETxm5m1_0?si=_Ec9NtqgL07IuL5O

Electron launches NROL-123

Mar 21, 2024


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the NROL-123 mission, called ‘Live and Let Fly’, from Launch Complex 2, Wallops, Virginia, on 21 March 2024, at 07:25 UTC (03:25 EDT).

[Airicist2]

https://youtu.be/cnREHQ-aZ74?si=xIsGhtBhBYziXh_O

Electron launches NeonSat-1 and ACS3

Apr 24, 2024


Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle launched the “Beginning Of The Swarm” mission, NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) and KAIST’s NeonSat-1 Earth observation satellite, from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 23 April 2024, at 22:32 UTC (24 April, at 10:32 NZST).