Spaceflight Insider

News Archive / Tagged: Electron

  • Rocket Lab aiming to launch mission for DARPA

    Jason RhianJanuary 30th, 2019

    One of the first flights on Rocket Lab's 2019 launch manifest is a satellite for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

  • Rocket Lab fields an array of NASA CubeSats on its latest success

    Joe LatrellDecember 16th, 2018

    Rocket Lab successfully launched another Electron rocket from its private launch complex in Mahia, New Zealand. The rocket vaulted from the pad at 06:33 UTC (19:33 NZDT) carrying 10 CubeSats for NASA as part of the agency's ELaNa 19 mission.

  • Finally ‘business time’ for Rocket Lab with 7 payloads launched

    Rae Botsford EndNovember 11th, 2018

    Rocket Lab sent its third Electron rocket into orbit on the company's first fully-commercial mission, called "It's Business Time."

  • Rocket Lab announces new launch site at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility

    Jason RhianOctober 18th, 2018

    California-based Rocket Lab has announced a new site from which it plans to fly its Electron rocket from - one based in the United States.

  • Rocket Lab’s manifest grows as it preps for its 1st fully-commercial flight

    Rae Botsford EndOctober 12th, 2018

    In spite of a few setbacks with its Electron launcher earlier this year, Rocket Lab has a lavish lineup planned for the rocket.

  • Rocket Lab’s Electron getting US-based launch site

    Heather SmithJuly 24th, 2018

    Rocket Lab recently announced plans to build a launch complex in the United States for its small Electron rocket. The site, to be announced in August 2018, is expected to complement its current facility in New Zealand.

  • It’s not Business Time: Scrub called on Rocket Lab’s first commercial flight

    Rae Botsford EndJune 23rd, 2018

    Rocket Lab’s first fully commercial mission, “It’s Business Time," will have to wait a little while longer before it takes to the skies.

  • Not quite business time: Rocket Lab delays next Electron launch

    Joe LatrellApril 18th, 2018

    Unusual behavior in a motor controller has prompted the delay of the next flight of Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher. During the wet dress rehearsal for the mission dubbed "It’s Business Time," the pad operations team found the anomaly.

  • Electron soars to orbit on Rocket Lab’s “Still Testing” flight

    Rae Botsford EndJanuary 21st, 2018

    On Sunday, January 21, at 2:43 p.m. NZDT (01:43 GMT), Rocket Lab successfully completed the second test flight of the company's Electron rocket from their own Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand.

  • Rocket Lab delays 2nd Electron test flight until 2018

    Rae Botsford EndDecember 20th, 2017

    After four scrubs, the second test flight of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket has been postponed until early 2018. In the initial release about the launch window, Rocket Lab CEO and CTO Peter Beck said the company was expecting to scrub multiple times as it waits for the perfect conditions and ensures everything on the vehicle performs as designed. That patience was and continues to be needed.

  • Rocket Lab sets launch window for next Electron launch

    Curt GodwinDecember 2nd, 2017

    Following the recent announcement about the company's preparations for the upcoming launch of its Electron rocket, Rocket Lab is now targeting a 10-day window in early December. Opening at 2:30 p.m. New Zealand Time (01:30 GMT) Dec. 8, 2017, the window will last for four hours during each of the attempts.

  • Rocket Lab prepares Electron for its second test flight

    Curt GodwinNovember 17th, 2017

    Less than six months after the maiden flight of their Electron launch vehicle, Rocket Lab is preparing for the second flight of its new rocket. With the arrival of the vehicle at the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, Rocket Lab now begins the pre-flight phase of their second mission.

  • Independent contractor to blame for Electron rocket failure

    Bart LeahyAugust 9th, 2017

    An internal review of Rocket Lab's May 25, 2017, test flight of an Electron rocket from its Mahia, New Zealand, launch site determined the vehicle was terminated due to an issue with an independent contractor’s ground equipment. A statement issued by the company's investigation board announced the incident's root causes and corrective actions.

  • Spaceflight Industries purchases dedicated Electron rocket

    Derek RichardsonMay 19th, 2017

    While Rocket Lab is gearing up to perform the maiden launch of its Electron rocket, SpaceFlight Industries announced that it has purchased a flight on a future Electron to increase the number of its dedicated ride-share missions.

  • Rocket Lab completes flight qualification of Electron first stage

    Derek RichardsonDecember 18th, 2016

    Less than three months after finishing its private space launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula, U.S.-based Rocket Lab announced flight qualification and acceptance of the company’s Electron booster has been completed.