Electron is a two-stage small-lift launch vehicle built and operated by Rocket Lab. The rocket has been launched to orbit 55 times with 51 successes and four failures. A suborbital version of the rocket, HASTE, has been successfully launched three times.
The first flight, known as "It's a Test", launched on 25 May 2017. The mission failed due to a glitch in communication equipment on the ground. Successful follow-on missions, including "Still Testing", "It's Business Time" and "This One's For Pickering", delivered multiple small payloads to low Earth orbit. Flight 26 was the first Electron flight to attempt a full catch recovery using a mid-air helicopter catch. "Scout's Arrow" was the first suborbital launch of the rocket.
In July 2019, Rocket Lab expected to have launches every two weeks in 2020. In June 2020, with a new Electron launch vehicle built every 18 days, Rocket Lab was planning to deliver monthly launches for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021, including the company's first launch from Wallops LC-2 in 2023 and a mission to the Moon for NASA aboard Electron and Rocket Lab's spacecraft bus platform Photon in 2022.
Launch statistics
Launch outcomes4 8 12 16 20 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
|
Launch sites4 8 12 16 20 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
|
Booster tests and recoveries4 8 12 16 20 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
|
Rocket configurations4 8 12 16 20 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
|
Orbital launches
2017–2018
Electron launched for the first time in May 2017, but the rocket was destroyed by the range safety officer after a telemetry loss, which was later attributed to a ground software failure. Electron experienced its first successful launch in January 2018, and launched their first mission for NASA in December 2018.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "It's a Test" | 25 May 2017, 04:20 | Mahia, LC-1A | None | None | 500 km, 85° LEO | Rocket Lab (flight test) | Failure | No attempt |
The rocket successfully launched and performed first stage separation and fairing separation. After reaching an altitude of about 224 kilometres (139 mi) (planned 500 kilometres (310 mi) at 85° inclination), the telemetry feed to the range safety officer was lost and the rocket was destroyed by range safety officer. Post-flight analysis determined the issue to be a simple ground software failure rather than a problem with the rocket. The ground software issue was found to be a contractor's failure to enable forward error correction on their hardware leading to data corruption. Rocket Lab made no changes to the Electron vehicle and instead implemented adjustment to procedures to prevent similar problems. | |||||||||
2 | "Still Testing" | 21 January 2018, 01:43 | Mahia, LC-1A | 13 kg (29 lb) | 400 km, 82.9° LEO | Success | No attempt | ||
Carrying CubeSats for Planet Labs and Spire Global. The two Lemur-2 satellites were put into a circularized orbit by the new "Electron kick stage" which was not announced until after the launch. Between December 2017 and January 2018 the launch was delayed six times due to weather, orbital traffic, rocket, and range safety issues. Put Lemur-2 payloads into 500 km (310 mi) high orbit at 85.0° inclination while the Dove Pioneer satellite was put into a 289 km (180 mi) x 533 km (331 mi). | |||||||||
3 | "It's Business Time" | 11 November 2018, 03:50 | Mahia, LC-1A | Approx 45 kilograms (99 lb) | 500 km, 85° LEO |
|
Success | No attempt | |
The 11 November 2018 launch was successful; all cubesats planned to be deployed were deployed in orbit. The launch, originally planned for April 2018, had been delayed several times: to June/July after unusual behavior was identified in a motor controller during a wet dress rehearsal, by a few days after a ground tracking antenna issue in the Chatham Island tracking station and indefinitely after another motor controller issue. In October 2018, a nine-day launch window was announced starting 11 November 2018. | |||||||||
4 | "This One's For Pickering" | 16 December 2018, 06:33 | Mahia, LC-1A | 78 kg (172 lb) | 500 km, 85° LEO | NASA | Success | No attempt | |
Multiple CubeSats for the NASA-sponsored ELaNa-19 mission. They were deployed from RailPOD dispensers. Was the first NASA mission for Rocket Lab. |
2019
Electron launched 6 times, all successfully, in 2019. First launch for the U.S. Air Force in May.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | "Two Thumbs Up" | 28 March 2019, 23:27 | Mahia, LC-1A | R3D2 | 150 kg (330 lb) | 425 km, 39.5° LEO | DARPA | Success | No attempt |
Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) will qualify a new type of membrane reflectarray antenna. Northrop Grumman serves as the prime contractor for R3D2. Blue Canyon Technologies provided the satellite bus, MMA Design provided the antenna. | |||||||||
6 | "That's a Funny Looking Cactus" | 5 May 2019, 06:00 | Mahia, LC-1A | 180 kilograms (400 lb) | 500 km, 40° LEO | U.S. Air Force | Success | No attempt | |
Launch is part of the "Rapid Agile Launch Initiative" (RALI) for the U.S. Air Force. Was first night launch of an Electron and its heaviest payload up to the time. | |||||||||
7 | "Make it Rain" | 29 June 2019, 04:30 | Mahia, LC-1A |
|
80 kilograms (180 lb) | 450 km, 45° LEO |
|
Success | No attempt |
BlackSky Global 3 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites. SpaceBEE cubesats are manufactured by Swarm Technologies to test two-way satellite communication and data relay. SpaceBEE 8 weighs 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) while SpaceBEE 9 weighs 0.7 kg (1.54 lb). | |||||||||
8 | "Look Ma, No Hands" | 19 August 2019, 12:12 | Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Approx. 80 kilograms (180 lb) | 510 km, 94.8° LEO |
|
Success | No attempt |
Breizh Recon Orbiter (BRO-1) is part of a constellation used for tracking maritime vessels. BlackSky Global 4 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites. The two experimental satellites for Air Force Space Command are part of the "Pearl White" technology demonstration program. | |||||||||
9 | "As the Crow Flies" | 17 October 2019, 01:22 | Mahia, LC-1A | Palisade | Approx. 20 kilograms (44 lb) | 1200 km, 87.9° LEO | Astro Digital | Success | No attempt |
Palisade is a 16U CubeSat technology demonstrator satellite. An upgraded, bi-propellant kick stage lifted the satellite to a 1200 km circular orbit, and then deorbited itself. | |||||||||
10 | "Running Out Of Fingers" | 6 December 2019, 08:18 | Mahia, LC-1A | Approx. 77 kilograms (170 lb) | 385 x 400 km, 97°LEO | Success | Controlled (atmosphere test) | ||
ATL-1 tests thermal insulation in space. FossaSat-1 is a communications satellite that uses low-power radio frequencies to provide internet connectivity. NOOR-1A and NOOR-1B demonstrated intersatellite link technology. SMOG-P uses a spectrum analyzer to measure electromagnetic pollution. TRSI Sat provides flight tracking services. ALE-2 creates artificial shooting star displays. The six satellites other than ALE-2 are PocketQubes, forming Alba Cluster 2 of Alba Orbital.
This mission also was the first guided, full telemetry re-entry of the Electron launch vehicle's first stage as part of Rocket Lab's plans to re-use and re-fly rocket boosters in future missions. Recovery instrumentation on-board this flight included guidance and navigation hardware, including S-band telemetry and on-board flight computer systems, to live-gather data during the first stage's atmospheric re-entry, as well as a reaction control system to orient the booster. After the launch Rocket Lab said that the reusability tests were successful. First flight of Electron with a fully autonomous flight termination system on the rocket. |
2020
First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office in January 2020.
First launch of Photon kickstage in August 2020.
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | "Birds of a Feather" | 31 January 2020, 02:56 | Mahia, LC-1A | NROL-151 | Classified | 590 km x 610 km, 70.9° LEO | National Reconnaissance Office | Success | Controlled (atmosphere test) |
First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO competitively awarded the contract under the Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) contract vehicle. RASR allows the NRO to explore new launch opportunities that can provide a streamlined, commercial approach for getting small satellites into space. For the second time, the Electron booster survived atmospheric re-entry. Rocket Lab again said that their reusability test was successful. | |||||||||
12 | "Don't Stop Me Now" | 13 June 2020, 05:12:12 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Classified | 570*590 km, 97.75° LEO | NRO, Boston University / NASA and University of New South Wales Canberra Space and the Royal Australian Air Force. | Success | No attempt |
Part of the ELaNa 32 mission, ANDESITE is a satellite designed to study Earth's magnetic field. The M2 Pathfinder satellite will be a technology demonstration satellite to test communications. The flight will also carry three payloads for the NRO. Rocket Lab does not plan to do any recovery testing. Flight delayed due to COVID-19. A launch attempt on 11 June 2020 was canceled due to bad weather. ANDESITE consists of ANDESITE Mule, a 6U parent spacecraft, and ANDESITE Node 1 to Node 8, small magnetometer subsatellites to be ejected from it to study magnetospheric variation. Each Node is 0.20 x 0.10 x 0.025 m in size with a mass of 0.38 kg. | |||||||||
13 | "Pics Or It Didn't Happen" | 4 July 2020 21:19:36 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Approx. 75 kg (165 lb) | 500 km, 97.5° SSO |
|
Failure | No attempt |
Flight No. 13's name was "Pics Or It Didn't Happen". The 5 SuperDoves were part of Planet's Flock 4e. Flight failed during 2nd stage burn. The issue was found to be a single faulty electrical connection that was not caught during preflight testing. The wiring was intermittently secure leading to increasing resistance causing heating and thermal expansion. This caused softening of potting compounds around the connection leading to a disconnect. The disconnect lead to power being cut from the electric turbopumps needed for the Rutherford engine leading the engine to be shut down. No changes were made to the vehicle but changes were made to "work instructions and quality signoffs". | |||||||||
14 | "I Can't Believe It's Not Optical" | 31 August 2020 03:05:47 |
Mahia, LC-1A | 100 kg | 500 km, 45° LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt | |
Return to flight of Electron after the 4 July 2020 launch failure. Launch of a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite, for global imagery. Also launched the Photon satellite bus. | |||||||||
15 | "In Focus" | 28 October 2020 21:21:27 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
72 kg | 500 km, 97.5° SSO | Success | No attempt | |
After satellite deployed kick stage changed orbital inclination. | |||||||||
16 | "Return To Sender" | 20 November 2020 02:20:01 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
200 kg | 500 km, 97.3° SSO |
|
Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
First Electron to attempt a soft ocean landing by parachute with the booster and recovery by vessel. | |||||||||
17 | "The Owl's Night Begins" | 15 December 2020 10:09:27 |
Mahia, LC-1A | StriX-α | 150 kg | 500 km, 97.3° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Test satellite weighing 150 kg (330 lb) using synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) from a Japanese company. Part of a future constellation of 25 satellites to provide global coverage. Satellite was encompassed in an expanded fairing. First of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. |
2021
First launch for US Space Force in July 2021.
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | "Another One Leaves The Crust" | 20 January 2021 07:26:00 |
Mahia, LC-1A | GMS-T | ~50 kg | 1200 km, 90° LEO | OHB | Success | No attempt |
Dedicated mission for OHB, the launch occurred six months after the contract signing with Rocket Lab and OHB. | |||||||||
19 | "They Go Up So Fast" | 22 March 2021 22:30 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Unknown | 450 km and 550km, 45° LEO |
|
Success | No attempt |
During this mission, Rocket Lab deployed their 100th satellite to orbit. As well as their second Photon satellite bus named Pathstone. Photon Pathstone will operate on orbit as a risk reduction demonstration to build spacecraft heritage ahead of Rocket Lab's mission to the Moon for NASA later this year, as well as Rocket Lab's private mission to Venus in 2025. | |||||||||
20 | "Running Out Of Toes" | 15 May 2021 11:11 |
Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-10, BlackSky-11 | 120 kg | 430 km, 50° LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Industries, Inc. | Failure | Success (Ocean landing) |
Second launch to attempt booster recovery (via ocean landing), using an advanced heat shield based on lessons learned from the first recovered Electron booster. First of four 2021 launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites. Second stage engine shut down early causing the mission to be lost, but Electron's first stage safely completed a successful splashdown under parachute. The investigation revealed that the second stage igniter fault induced an interference with the engine controller that caused the data signal corruption for the thrust vector control (TVC) system, straying the vehicle off course. | |||||||||
21 | "It's A Little Chile Up Here" | 29 July 2021 06:00 |
Mahia, LC-1A | Monolith | Unknown | 600 km, 37° LEO | U.S. Space Force | Success | No attempt |
The launch was originally scheduled to fly from LC-2 in Wallops in 2020, but NASA didn't certify the autonomous flight termination system (AFTS) in time. Because of these delays, the launch was moved to LC-1 as the return to flight after the anomaly Electron experienced during the "Running Out Of Toes" mission in May 2021. | |||||||||
22 | "Love At First Insight" | 18 November 2021 01:38:13 |
Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-14, BlackSky-15 | 120 kg | 430 km, 42°LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
Second of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021. Mission was named "Love At First Insight". The first stage booster performed a soft ocean splashdown under parachute. For the first time, a helicopter tracked and observed Electron's descent in preparation for future missions which aim to use helicopters to intercept and capture returning launch vehicle boosters mid-air as they return to Earth under parachute. The launch vehicle also flew with an advanced parachute deployed from the first stage at a higher altitude then previous recovery attempts and an improved heat shield. | |||||||||
23 | "A Data With Destiny" | 9 December 2021 00:02 | Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-12 Gen-2, BlackSky-13 Gen-2 | 120 kg | 430 km, 42°LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | No attempt |
Third of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021. This mission set a new turnaround record between Electron launches at just 20 days. |
2022
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | "The Owl's Night Continues" | 28 February 2022 20:37 |
Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-β | ~150 kg | 561 km, 97° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Inaugural launch from Launch Complex 1 Pad B. Second of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | |||||||||
25 | "Without Mission A Beat" | 2 April 2022 12:41 |
Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-14 Gen-2, BlackSky-15 Gen-2 | ~120 kg | 430 km, 53° LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | No attempt |
Last of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021 and 2022. | |||||||||
26 | "There And Back Again" | 2 May 2022 22:49 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Unknown | 520 km, 94° SSO |
|
Success | Partial failure (aerial capture) |
Deployed 34 satellites for six customers. First mid-air helicopter capture attempt of an Electron first stage following launch. Electron was initially captured by the helicopter, but the pilot detected different load characteristics than previously experienced in testing and offloaded the stage for a splashdown, where it was recovered by Rocket Lab's contracted offshore vessel, Seaworker as in previous ocean landings. | |||||||||
27 | "CAPSTONE" | 28 June 2022 09:55 |
Mahia, LC-1B | 80 kg | TLI to NRHO | Success | No attempt | ||
Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) is a CubeSat mission that will serve as a precursor for the planned Gateway. It used Photon to place CAPSTONE on a trajectory to the Moon. CAPSTONE will move into a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) after separation from Photon. Due to the heavy nature of the payload, the first stage was stripped down to its bare frame with no recovery hardware and no cameras. The recovery hardware itself takes about 10-15% of the payload mass capabilities of a given launch. | |||||||||
28 | "Wise One Looks Ahead". | 13 July 2022 06:30 |
Mahia, LC-1A | NROL-162 (RASR-3) | Classified | 620 km, 40° LEO | NRO | Success | No attempt |
First of two "Responsive Space Missions" NRO launches. Back to back launches between Pad A and B. | |||||||||
29 | "Antipodean Adventure" | 4 August 2022 05:00 |
Mahia, LC-1B | NROL-199 (RASR-4) | Classified | 620 km, 70°LEO | NRO | Success | No attempt |
Second of two "Responsive Space Missions" NRO launches. Back to back launches between Pad A and B. | |||||||||
30 | "The Owl Spreads Its Wings" | 15 September 2022 20:38 |
Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-1 | ~100 kg | 563 km, 97°SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Third of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. StriX-1 is the 150th satellite deployed by Rocket Lab. | |||||||||
31 | "It Argos Up From Here" | 7 October 2022 17:09 |
Mahia, LC-1B | GAzelle (Argos-4) | 118 kg | 750 km 98° SSO | NOAA / CNES | Success | No attempt |
First launch for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. The GAzelle satellite carries the Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection System hosted payload. | |||||||||
32 | "Catch Me If You Can" | 4 November 2022 17:27 |
Mahia, LC-1B | MATS | 50 kg | 585 km, 97.66° SSO | SNSA & OHB Sweden | Success | Partial failure (aerial capture) |
Launch of MATS atmospheric research satellite for the Swedish National Space Agency. Second attempt at mid-air helicopter recovery of first stage, however due to telemetry loss from the first stage during its descent, it was not safe for the helicopter to loiter in the capture zone, so it backed off. Stage made a soft ocean landing and was recovered by Rocket Lab's contracted offshore vessel, Seaworker as in previous ocean landings. |
2023
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | "Virginia Is For Launch Lovers" | 24 January 2023 23:00 |
MARS, LC-2 | HawkEye 360 Cluster 6 (3 satellites) | 40 kg | 550 km, 40.5° LEO | HawkEye 360 | Success | No attempt |
First launch from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops. Launch of the first 3 of the 15 satellites contracted with HawkEye 360. | |||||||||
34 | "Stronger Together" | 16 March 2023 22:39 | MARS, LC-2 | Capella 9, Capella 10 | 224 kg | 600 km, 44° LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt |
Dedicated launch for Capella Space. | |||||||||
35 | "The Beat Goes On" | 24 March 2023 09:14 | Mahia, LC-1B | BlackSky-18 Gen-2, BlackSky 19 Gen-2 | ~120 kg | 450 km, 42° LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
Dedicated launch for BlackSky. | |||||||||
36 | "Rocket Like A Hurricane" | 8 May 2023 01:00 | Mahia, LC-1B | TROPICS × 2 | 10 kg | 550 km, 32° LEO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
First of two TROPICS missions awarded to Rocket Lab after a prior mission awarded to competing launch provider Astra failed to orbit. The TROPICS mission consists of four (formerly six) CubeSats intended for two (formerly three) low-Earth orbital planes at an inclination of 30 degrees. Due to the light weight of the payload and the target orbit, the second stage completed the orbital insertion while the kick stage was used to perform a plane change burn to the target inclination. | |||||||||
37 | "Coming to a Storm Near You" | 26 May 2023 03:46 | Mahia, LC-1B | TROPICS × 2 | 10 kg | 550 km, 32° LEO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
Second of two TROPICS missions awarded to Rocket Lab after a prior mission awarded to competing launch provider Astra failed to orbit. | |||||||||
39 | "Baby Come Back" | 18 July 2023 01:27 | Mahia, LC-1B |
|
~86 kg | 1000 km, 99.45° SSO | Success | Success (Ocean landing) | |
The LEO 3 demonstration satellite will provide continuity for customer and ecosystem vendor testing campaigns following the decommissioning of Telesat's Phase 1 LEO satellite. This mission tested out new reusability technologies, including improved water sealing, a lighter parachute, and new hardware on the recovery vessel. | |||||||||
40 | "We Love The Nightlife" | 23 August 2023 23:45 | Mahia, LC-1B | Acadia 1 | ~165 kg | 640 km, 53° LEO | Capella Space | Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
First of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. For the first time on this mission, Rocket Lab is reusing a Rutherford engine from another mission launched in May 2022 "There And Back Again". | |||||||||
41 | "We Will Never Desert You" | 19 September 2023 06:55 | Mahia, LC-1B | Acadia 2 | ~165 kg | 640 km, 53° LEO | Capella Space | Failure | No attempt |
Second of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. An anomaly occurred after stage separation, which resulted in a failure to orbit. Due to a sharp change of voltage from 420V to 508V due to an arc leading to a short in the power system that is used for motor controls caused in the near vacuum of space as a result of phenomenon of Paschen's law in T+151 to T+152.66 seconds. | |||||||||
42 | "The Moon God Awakens" | 15 December 2023 04:05 | Mahia, LC-1B | QPS-SAR-5 (TSUKUYOMI-I) | ~100 kg | 575 km, 42° LEO | iQPS | Success | No attempt |
The satellite was previously manifested as a LauncherOne payload. After Virgin Orbit's bankruptcy and shutdown, the payload was transferred to Electron. This mission was Electron's return to launch after a failure due to a second stage issue occurring in the previous mission ("We Will Never Desert You") on September 19. |
2024
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43 | "Four Of A Kind" | 31 January 2024 06:34 |
Mahia, LC-1B | Skylark × 4 | ~112 kg | 530 km, 97° LEO | Spire Global and NorthStar Earth & Space | Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
Dedicated launch for Spire Global. | |||||||||
44 | "On Closer Inspection" | 18 February 2024 14:52 |
Mahia, LC-1B | ADRAS-J | 150 kg | 600 km, 98° SSO | Astroscale | Success | No attempt |
The Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite will rendezvous with a spent Japanese H-2A upper stage launch vehicle body in low Earth orbit and demonstrate proximity operations in preparation for a future de-orbiting mission. Due to the special mission requirements, Electron had a near instantaneous launch window. | |||||||||
45 | "Owl Night Long" | 12 March 2024 15:03 |
Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-3 | 100 kg | 561 km, 97° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Fourth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | |||||||||
46 | "Live and Let Fly" | 21 March 2024 07:25 |
MARS, LC-2 | NROL-123 (4 Payloads) | Classified | LEO | National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) | Success | No attempt |
The NROL-123 mission, was Rocket Lab’s first launch for the NRO from the United States after previously launching four NRO missions from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula. | |||||||||
47 | "Beginning Of The Swarm" | 23 April 2024 22:32 |
Mahia, LC-1B |
|
~115 kg | 520 km Neonsat-1, 1.000km ACS3, 97° SSO | Success | No attempt | |
Rideshare mission including NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3). | |||||||||
48 | "Ready, Aim, PREFIRE" | 25 May 2024 07:41 |
Mahia, LC-1B | PREFIRE 1 | ~15 kg | 525 km 97.5° SSO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
First of two launches for NASA's PREFIRE mission. | |||||||||
49 | "PREFIRE And Ice" | 5 June 2024 03:15 |
Mahia, LC-1B | PREFIRE 2 | ~15 kg | 525 km 97.5° SSO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
Second of two launches for NASA's PREFIRE mission. | |||||||||
50 | "No Time Toulouse" | 20 June 2024 18:13 |
Mahia, LC-1B | Kinéis × 5 | 150 kg | 635 km 98° SSO | Kinéis | Success | No attempt |
First of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. Electron 50th mission. | |||||||||
51 | "Owl For One, One For Owl" | 2 August 2024 16:39 |
Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-4 | 100 kg | 543 km, 43° LEO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Fifth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | |||||||||
52 | "A Sky Full Of SARs" | 11 August 2024 13:18 |
Mahia, LC-1B | Acadia 3 | 165 kg | 615 km, 53° LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt |
Third of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. | |||||||||
53 | "Kinéis Killed The RadIoT Star" | 20 September 2024 23:01 |
Mahia, LC-1A | Kinéis × 5 | 150 kg | 643 km 98° LEO | Kinéis | Success | No attempt |
Second of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. First launch from LC-1A since July 2022. | |||||||||
54 | "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes" | 5 November 2024 10:54 |
Mahia, LC-1B | Protosat-1 | Classified | SSO | E-Space | Success | No attempt |
Launch of a yet to identified satellite to SSO for an undisclosed customer. The customer is suspected to be Low Earth Orbit communication satellite constellation operator E-Space. Launch contract was signed less than 2 months before launch. | |||||||||
56 | "Ice AIS Baby" | 25 November 2024 03:55 |
Mahia, LC-1B | Kinéis × 5 | 150 kg | 643 km 97° LEO | Kinéis | Success | No attempt |
Third of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. Rocket Lab completes 200th satellites launched on this mission. | |||||||||
58 | "Owl The Way Up" | 21 December 2024 14:17 |
Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-2 | 100 kg | 574 km, 97° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Sixth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. Rocket Lab completes this year with 14 orbital launches and 2 of the suborbital HASTE program from Wallops in Virginia. A new record for the company with 16 launches in the year. |
Upcoming orbital launches
2025
Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Planned destination |
Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
First of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | Acadia 10 | LEO | Capella Space |
Fourth of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. Includes an option to move any of the missions to MARS LC-2. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | Kinéis × 5 | LEO | Kinéis |
Fourth of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | Kinéis × 5 | LEO | Kinéis |
Fifth of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. | ||||
2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | Hawk × 6 | LEO | HawkEye 360 |
First of two dedicated launches for HawkEye 360. | ||||
2025 | Unknown | Hawk × 6 | LEO | HawkEye 360 |
Second of two dedicated launches for HawkEye 360. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Second of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Third of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Fourth of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Fifth of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
Q4 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | LOXSAT1 | SSO | Eta Space |
Cryogenic fluid management technology demonstration for a future propellant depot. | ||||
NET 2025 | Mahia, LC-1 | Venus Life Finder | Heliocentric | Rocket Lab |
Private Venus exploration mission, using an atmospheric-entry probe developed jointly with MIT. A Photon relay satellite will perform a flyby of Venus in order to relay the data from the atmospheric-entry probe. | ||||
NET 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | DISKSat | VLEO | U.S. Space Force |
The mission, called Space Test Program-30 (STP-S30), is a launch scheduled to take place within 24 months from contract award to demonstrate Rocket Lab's responsive space program. | ||||
NLT fall 2025 | LC-1 or LC-2 | Pioneer derived satellite | LEO | U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command |
Mission for SSC. Rocket Lab will build and launch a satellite for TacRS (Tactically Responsive Space). Once on orbit, the spacecraft will conduct a variety of dynamic space operations to demonstrate SDA characterization capabilities with True Anomaly’s spacecraft, the Jackal autonomous orbital vehicle. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
Seventh of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation, and the first of a renewed contract of 10 additional dedicated launches signed in June 2024. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
Eighth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
Ninth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
10th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
11th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
12th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
13th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
14th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
15th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
16th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. |
Suborbital launches (HASTE)
Completed launches
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Apogee | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38 | "Scout's Arrow" | 18 June 2023 01:24 | MARS, LC-2 | DYNAMO-A | Classified | Unknown | Dynetics | Success | No attempt |
Part of Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program. | |||||||||
55 | "HASTE A La Vista" | 24 November 2024 06:00 | MARS, LC-2 | MACH-TB | Classified | Unknown | Leidos | Success | No attempt |
First of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. | |||||||||
57 | "Stonehenge" | 14 December 2024 01:00 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Classified | Unknown | Confidential | Success | No attempt |
The launch deal was signed with a confidential customer just days after the first HASTE launch took place. |
Planned launches
Per the Q3 2023 investor presentation, there are currently 2 HASTE launches planned for 2024, one in Q3 and one in Q4.
Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Apogee | Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
NET 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
Second of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. | ||||
NET April 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | DART AE | Unknown | DIU |
This mission will deploy a payload from Hypersonix called DART AE, DART AE is a scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle capable of speeds up to Mach 7. This mission will also demonstrate HASTE's direct inject capabilities. Direct inject means that the payload will be deployed while the rocket is still ascending. | ||||
NET 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
Third of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. | ||||
NET 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
Fourth of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. |
See also
References
- "Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron mission, deploys seven satellites to orbit" (Press release). Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Demonstrate Fastest Launch Turnaround to Date" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (25 May 2017). "Maiden flight of Rocket Lab's small satellite launcher reaches space". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Completes Post-Flight Analysis" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (7 August 2017). "Telemetry glitch kept first Electron rocket from reaching orbit". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (21 January 2018). "Rocket Lab delivers nanosatellites to orbit on first successful test launch". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "NASA ELaNa-19". Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ O'Callaghan, Jonathan (24 January 2019). "Rocket Lab's First Launch Of 2019 Will Be A Mission For DARPA". Forbes. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Rocket Lab (8 May 2019). "Last week's STP-27RD mission was our 6th Electron launch! We've now deployed 28 satellites to orbit for innovative organizations including NASA, Planet Labs, DARPA, Spire Global, the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program, and many more. We can't wait to share what's next on our 2019 manifest!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via Twitter.
- Berger, Eric (24 January 2018). "Rocket Lab launched a secret payload into space last weekend". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Electron Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- Clark, Stephen (1 December 2017). "Rocket Lab to launch second orbital-class rocket as soon as next week". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- "Rocket Lab successfully circularizes orbit with new Electron kick stage". rocketlabusa.com (Press release). Rocket Lab. 23 January 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- Reidy, Madison (11 December 2017). "Rocket Lab launch canceled six minutes into window". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- Clark, Stephen (12 December 2017). "Electron countdown aborted at engine start, next launch attempt Wednesday". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 19 January 2018.
- Ryan, Holly (21 January 2018). "Blast off! Rocket Lab successfully reaches orbit". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- Clark, Stephen (29 January 2018). "Rocket Lab's test launch carried two previously-unannounced passengers". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (6 April 2018). "Rocket Lab preps for first commercial satellite launch". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- Grush, Loren (4 April 2018). "Rocket Lab sets date for first commercial launch of its Electron rocket". The Verge. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- "CICERO (Community Initiative for Continuing Earth Radio Occultation) pathfinder mission". eoPortal. European Space Agency. 10 July 2017. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Gebhardt, Chris (25 May 2018). "Rocket Lab announces new launch date, payloads for "It's Business Time" Electron flight". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- Clark, Stephen (31 October 2018). "Rocket Lab sets new target date for first operational launch". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- Clark, Stephen (23 June 2018). "Ground antenna problem scrubs Rocket Lab's first commercial launch". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- Gebhardt, Chris (26 June 2018). "Rocket Lab scrubs latest attempt at first operational Electron launch with five payload elements". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- Clark, Stephen (28 June 2018). "Rocket Lab's first commercial launch grounded to fix nagging technical issue". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- @RocketLab (30 October 2018). "It's Business Time! The nine day launch window for #ItsBusinessTime opens 11 November, NZDT. Daily launch opportunities between 16:00 - 20:00 NZDT (03:00 - 07:00 UTC). Electron is ready. The team is primed. Let's go to orbit" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 June 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Rocket Lab prepares to launch historic CubeSat mission for NASA" (Press release). Huntington Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 4 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024.
- Burghardt, Thomas (15 December 2018). "Rocket Lab Electron launches ELaNa-XIX mission – NASASpaceFlight.com". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab completes fit check for NASA VCLS ELaNa XIX mission" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ "DARPA R3D2". Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- "Rocket Lab to launch dedicated Electron mission for DARPA" (Press release). Huntington Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023.
- Burghardt, Thomas (28 March 2019). "Rocket Lab launches dedicated DARPA mission on Electron". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "R3D2". space.skyrocket.de. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- Foust, Jeff (23 January 2019). "Rocket Lab to Launch DARPA Satellite in February". Space.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- @RocketLab (4 April 2019). "We've made a tradition of giving every Electron rocket its own unique name. Our next mission is for the Space Test Program, which is based in New Mexico. That location might just have been the inspiration for this vehicle name and mission patch....#ThatsAFunnyLookingCactus" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ Atkinson, Ian (5 May 2019). "Rocket Lab launches STP-27RD test satellite trio for the DoD – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- Foust, Jeff (3 April 2019). "Rocket Lab to launch Air Force satellites". Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- "Rocket Lab successfully launches three R&D satellites to orbit for the U.S. Air Force" (Press release). Auckland, New Zealand: Rocket Lab. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Burghardt, Thomas (28 June 2019). "Rocket Lab conducts Spaceflight Inc. Rideshare Mission with Electron launch – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- Pietrobon, Steven. "New Zealand Launch Record (2009 to present)". Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "BlackSky Global 1, ..., 60". space.skyrocket.de. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Spaceflight To Launch Smallsats for Canon Electronics, BlackSky, and Others on Three Upcoming Rocket Lab Missions" (Press release). Seattle, WA: Spaceflight, Inc. 11 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2018 – via Business Wire.
- "MAKE IT RAIN Press Kit JUNE 2019" (PDF). Rocket Lab. June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "SpaceBEE 5, 6, 7, 8, 9". space.skyrocket.de. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- Clark, Stephen (17 June 2019). "Rocket Lab's next launch will loft cluster of satellites on Spaceflight rideshare". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- Howell, Elizabeth (19 August 2019). "Rocket Lab Electron Booster Launches 4 Satellites into Orbit – Space.com". Space.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ^ Clark, Stephen. "Rocket Lab launch fulfills initial block of BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "BRO 1 (Breizh Reconnaissance Orbiter)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- "Rocket Lab to launch dedicated mission for Astro Digital" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "Palisade". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023.
- "Astro Digital: Space-Based Solutions". Astro Digital. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- Clark, Stephen (17 October 2019). "Rocket Lab delivers on dedicated launch for Astro Digital". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023.
- Mission: "Running out of Fingers". Rocket Lab.
- ^ "Next Generation Electron Booster on the Pad for Rocket Lab's 10th Mission". Rocket Lab USA (Press release). Huntington Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 5 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024.
- "NEXT MISSION: RUNNING OUT OF FINGERS". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- Corbett, Tobias (6 December 2019). "Rocket Lab launches 10th Electron flight – critical step towards booster recovery". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- Sampson, Ben (9 December 2019). "Rocket Lab successfully flight tests re-entry of rocket booster". Aerospace Testing International. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- "Rocket Lab Debuts Fully Autonomous Flight Termination System" (Press release). Huntington Beach, California: Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (31 January 2020). "Rocket Lab successfully launches NRO satellite". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- @RocketLab (13 June 2020). "We're readjusting the T-0 for cumulus cloud. New T-0 set for 05:12 UTC" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 June 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Jonathan's Space Report No. 779". planet4589.org. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- Malik, Tariq (11 June 2020). "Rocket Lab to launch satellites for US spysat agency and NASA Saturday. Here's how to watch". Space.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Don't Stop Me Now". Rocket Lab. Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab's Next Mission to Launch Satellites for NASA, NRO and the University of New South Wales" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Rocket Lab's second mission for 2020 delayed as high winds cancel launch". 1News. TVNZ. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (3 July 2020). "Rocket Lab plans next launch Saturday, closes in on first mission from Virginia". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023.
- Safyan, Mike. "Pics or It Didn't Happen: The Rocket Lab Launch of Five New SuperDoves". Planet. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- Foust, Jeff (4 July 2020). "Rocket Lab Electron launch fails". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- "Rocket Lab Mission Fails to Reach Orbit" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 4 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- "Rocket Lab to Resume Electron Launches in August" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- Foust, Jeff (31 July 2020). "Rocket Lab blames Electron launch failure on electrical problem". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- Clark, Stephen (30 August 2020). "Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- "Capella Space and Rocket Lab to Launch Mid-Inclination Satellite to Enable Improved Monitoring of Key Global Regions". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- "Rocket Lab to send Capella radar satellite to mid-inclination orbit". SpaceNews. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- @RocketLab (5 March 2020). "The launch paves the way for reliable and persistent imagery of anywhere on the globe, day or night, in any weather. Capella can detect sub-0.5 m changes on Earth's surface, providing insights that can be used for security, agricultural and infrastructure monitoring + disaster response" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 March 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Rocket Lab Launches First In-house Designed & Built Photon Satellite" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 3 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- "Rocket Lab To Launch Commercial Earth-Imaging Rideshare Mission For Planet, Canon Electronics" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ @RocketLab (28 October 2020). "LOX fill is well underway at LC-1, with just under three hours to launch" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Rocket Lab demonstrates flexible in-space transportation with new Kick Stage maneuver" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- "Return to Sender". Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- Clark, Stephen (5 November 2020). "Rocket Lab to attempt booster recovery on next mission". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023.
- "The Owl's Night Begins". Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- @RocketLab (15 December 2020). "Just under four hours to lift-off for today's #TheOwlsNightBegins. Here are the details for today's dedicated launch to orbit for Synspective" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Rocket Lab to Launch Dedicated Mission for Japanese Earth Imaging Company Synspective" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Signs Record Deal for 10 Electron Launches with Synspective". Rocket Lab (Press release). 17 June 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- "Another One Leaves The Crust". Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- "GMS-T". Gunter's Space Page. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- Foust, Jeff (20 January 2021). "Rocket Lab launches secretive communications satellite for OHB". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ "They Go Up So Fast". Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024.
- @RocketLab (22 February 2021). "Meet Photon Pathstone, the stepping stone to our lunar mission for @NASA. Launching on #TheyGoUpSoFast in a few weeks, this next gen Photon is a risk reduction demo ahead of the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Twitter.
- @RocketLab (15 May 2021). "We're back in the countdown. New T-0 set to 11:11 UTC" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 15 May 2021 – via Twitter.
- @RocketLab (15 May 2021). "An issue was experienced during today's launch, resulting in the loss of the mission. We are deeply sorry to our launch customers BlackSky and Spaceflight. The issue occurred shortly after stage two ignition. More information will be provided as it becomes available" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 January 2022 – via Twitter.
- Etherington, Darrell (15 May 2021). "Rocket Lab's 20th Electron launch ends in failure with the loss of its payload". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- "Rocket Lab Experiences Anomaly During Launch" (Press release). Auckland, New Zealand: Rocket Lab. 16 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
Electron's first stage safely completed a successful splashdown under parachute and Rocket Lab's recovery team is working to retrieve the stage from the ocean as planned.
- "Bringing a Rocket Back from Space: Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- "BlackSky strikes deal with Rocket Lab to launch eight more satellites in 2021". SpaceNews. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "Rocket Lab Completes Anomaly Review, Next Mission on the Pad in July" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023.
- "Rocket Lab Successfully Launches U.S. Space Force Mission" (Press release). Mahia, New Zealand: Rocket Lab. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- Foust, Jeff (14 November 2020). "First Rocket Lab U.S. launch delayed to 2021". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024.
- @RocketLab (11 October 2021). "🚀Love At First Insight: launch window opens Nov. 11 🚀A Data With Destiny: launch window opens Nov. 27" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Launch Three Back-To-Back Missions for BlackSky from late August" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Beck, Peter (18 November 2021). "Splash down of the stage confirmed. Helicopter has eyes on it" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021 – via Twitter.
- "Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Rocket, Introduce Helicopter Operations During Next Launch" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023.
- Neal, Mihir (8 December 2021). "Rocket Lab launches another pair of BlackSky satellites". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- "Next Mission: The Owl's Night Continues". Rocket Lab. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- Navin, Joseph (2 April 2022). "Rocket Lab's Electron launches two BlackSky satellites on 25th mission". NASASpaceFlight. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Successfully Deploys 34 Satellites and Catches Rocket Booster Returning from Space with Helicopter" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2022 – via Business Wire.
- Neal, Mihir (27 June 2022). "Rocket Lab & NASA launch CAPSTONE to the Moon". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- "Rocket Lab to Launch NASA Funded Commercial Moon Mission from New Zealand" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- DeSisto, Austin (30 May 2022). "CAPSTONE - Electron". Everyday Astronaut. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- Kanayama, Lee (13 July 2022). "Rocket Lab launches first of two back-to-back missions for NRO". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Launch Responsive Space Missions for National Reconnaissance Office". Rocket Lab (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2022 – via Business Wire.
- Navin, Joseph (4 August 2022). "Rocket Lab's Electron launches NROL-199". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- @RocketLab (31 August 2022). "'The Owl Spreads Its Wings' launch window opens: UTC | 20:30, Sept 14 [...]" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022 – via Twitter.
- "The Owl Spreads Its Wings | Rocket Lab". Rocket Lab. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- Sesnic, Trevor (7 October 2022). "Rocket Lab launches "It Argos Up From Here" mission". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- Krebs, Gunter Dirk (27 February 2021). "OTB 3 (Argos-4)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- "It Argos Up From Here". Rocket Lab. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- @RocketLab (4 November 2022). "17:27:14 UTC @StephenClark1" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 March 2024 – via Twitter.
- Beck, Peter (4 November 2022). "Rocket telemetry dropped out (it happens a bit during reentry) but we did not regain a solid link in time. Without that link it's just not safe to put the helicopter into the recovery zone, so we stood it off. The great thing about recovery is you get it back to see what happened" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 6 November 2022 – via Twitter.
- Davenport, Justin (24 January 2023). "Rocket Lab conducts first Electron launch from American soil". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- "Virginia Is For Launch Lovers Press Kit" (PDF). Rocket Lab. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- Harwood, William (24 January 2023). "Rocket Lab launches 3 satellites in first mission from U.S. soil". CBS News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- Barra, Amy (16 March 2023). "NASA Wallops Supports Second Rocket Lab Electron Launch". NASA Wallops. NASA. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- Foust, Jeff (24 March 2023). "Rocket Lab launches BlackSky satellites". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- Foust, Jeff (7 May 2023). "Rocket Lab launches NASA TROPICS cubesats". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ Finch, Joshua; Raines, Kiana; Bielling, Patti, eds. (23 November 2022). "NASA Awards Launch Services Task Order for TROPICS CubeSats Mission" (Press release). NASA. 22-123. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- Foust, Jeff (26 May 2023). "Electron launches second pair of NASA TROPICS cubesats". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- Foust, Jeff (18 July 2023). "Electron launches seven smallsats in latest step towards reusability". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
The Electron lifted off from the company's Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula at 9:27 p.m. Eastern.
- Kiseleva, Mariia (9 July 2023). "Baby Come Back - Electron". Everyday Astronaut. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
Payload mass: Approximately 86 kg
- Foust, Jeff (13 July 2023). "Rocket Lab takes another step towards reusability on next Electron launch". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- Foust, Jeff (23 August 2023). "Rocket Lab reuses engine on Electron launch". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- "Electron | We Love the Nightlife (Capella Acadia 1)".
- ^ "Rocket Lab Signs Multi-Launch Deal to Deploy Satellite Constellation for Capella Space" (Press release). Long Beach and San Francisco, California: Rocket Lab. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- "Radar-imaging satellite lost as Rocket Lab Electron rocket suffers launch failure". Spaceflight Now. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- @capellaspace (14 September 2023). "The Acadia-2 mission patch is here! The nocturnal Fennec fox has large ears to sense prey in its native desert environment. Capella's growing #SAR constellation senses targets day or night, regardless of weather conditions, for consistent & reliable insights #WeWillNeverDesertYou" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2023 – via Twitter.
- "Q3 2023 Investor Update" (PDF). Rocket Lab. 8 November 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2024.
- "Rocket Lab Reaches New Annual Launch Record with 10th Electron Mission This Year" (Press release). Mahia, New Zealand: Rocket Lab. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- Foust, Jeff (13 October 2023). "The Accidental Monopoly". SpaceNews. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- Josh Dinner (29 November 2023). "Rocket Lab aims for Dec. 13 Electron launch, 1st since failure in September". Space.com. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- "Rocket Lab Successfully Launches First Electron Mission of Busy 2024 Launch Schedule" (Press release). Mahia, New Zealand: Rocket Lab. 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- "Spire Earth Observations" (PDF). Spire Global. 6 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- Wall, Mike (18 February 2024). "Rocket Lab launches ADRAS-J space junk inspection satellite for Astroscale (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- "Rocket Lab Sets Launch Window for Astroscale Orbital Debris Inspection Demonstration Mission". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- Wall, Mike (12 March 2024). "Rocket Lab launches a commercial radar-imaging satellite in dramatic night launch (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- Wall, Mike (21 March 2024). "Rocket Lab launches mysterious spy satellites in 4th-ever US liftoff (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- McDowell, Jonathan (22 March 2024). "Space-Track has now cataloged the NROL-123 Electron launch. There are actually FOUR payloads: "USA 352", MOLA, Aerocube 16A and Aerocube 16B. (Likely the earlier statement of 3 implies that AC-16A/B were deployed attached to each other and then separated?)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024 – via Twitter.
- "Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos)". Space.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches NASA cubesat to study heat lost from Earth's poles". Space.com. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches 2nd shoebox-sized climate satellite for NASA (video)". Space.com. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches 5 IoT satellites on landmark 50th mission". Space.com. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Successfully Completes Latest Launch for Synspective". Rocket Lab. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches sharp-eyed private radar satellite to orbit". Space.com. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches 5 'Internet of Things' satellites to orbit". Space.com. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (8 September 2021). "Rocket Lab wins multi-launch deal for IoT constellation". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- "Rocket Lab launches mystery mission on company's 12th launch of 2024 (video)". Space.com. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- Jeff Foust (5 November 2024). "Rocket Lab launches undisclosed commercial payload". SpaceNews. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches 200th satellite to orbit (photos, video)". Space.com. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- "Rocket Lab launches private Earth-imaging satellite to orbit on its final flight of 2024". Space.com. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ "BlackSky Signs New Block Buy for Five Rocket Lab Launches" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 8 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- Sheetz, Michael (28 February 2023). "Rocket Lab quarterly revenue stays steady as space company doubles order backlog". CNBC. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
Alongside its results, Rocket Lab announced a contract for four Electron launches from satellite company Capella Space. Those missions are scheduled to begin in the second half of the year.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Lands Multi-Launch Deal to Deploy Entire IoT Satellite Constellation for Kinéis" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 8 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 34th Electron Rocket, Second Mission from Virginia" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- Foust, Jeff (14 September 2023). "HawkEye 360 reaches inflection point on path to profitability". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- "Rocket Lab Secures Multi-Launch Contract with HawkEye 360, Confirms First Launch Planned from Virginia" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2022 – via Business Wire.
- "LOXSAT Payload Rolls Out to KSC for Testing". Eta Space (Press release). 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024 – via EIN PressWire.
- Campbell, Lyle; Philipp, Dahm; Mandy, Christophe; Peterson, Keith; Monk, Josh; Alpert, Hannah (17 May 2023). Rocket Lab Venus - Enabling Low-Cost Interplanetary Missions. International Planetary Probe Workshop. Marseille. 20230007715. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ""Newer, nimbler, faster:" Venus probe will search for signs of life in clouds of sulfuric acid" (Press release). MIT. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Space Force Awards Rocket Lab Launch Contract for Space Test Program (STP)-S30" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- Clark, Stephen (12 April 2024). "The Space Force is planning what could be the first military exercise in orbit". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- Bailey, Morgan, ed. (11 April 2024). "Rocket Lab Selected by Space Systems Command to Build and Launch Spacecraft for Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) Mission" (Press release). Colorado Springs, Colorado: Rocket Lab. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via Business Wire.
- "Electron". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Leidos' MACH-TB program successfully completes 1st test launch" (Press release). Wallops Island, Virginia: Leidos. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- "Electron". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- "Rocket Lab Signs Deal with Leidos to Launch Four HASTE Missions" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- "Electron". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- "Rocket Lab Inks New Deal to Launch HASTE Mission from Virginia" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 8 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- "Hypersonix Launch Systems". www.hypersonix.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- "Rocket Lab Adds New HASTE Launch from Virginia for the Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit" (Press release). Long Beach, California: Rocket Lab. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
External links
Spaceflight lists and timelines | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General | |||||||||||||||||
Human spaceflight |
| ||||||||||||||||
Solar System exploration | |||||||||||||||||
Earth-orbiting satellites | |||||||||||||||||
Vehicles | |||||||||||||||||
Launches by rocket type |
| ||||||||||||||||
Launches by spaceport | |||||||||||||||||
Agencies, companies and facilities | |||||||||||||||||
Other mission lists and timelines |
Rocket Lab | ||
---|---|---|
Personnel |
| |
Products |
| |
Facilities |
| |
Missions | ||