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Rocket Lab - 'Another One Leaves The Crust' Launch


Another One Leaves The Crust

The mission will launch a single communication microsatellite for OHB Group that will enable specific frequencies to support future services from orbit. The launch will be Rocket Lab’s 18th Electron mission and was procured for OHB Group through OHB Cosmos International Launch Service GmbH, the laun...

Another One Leaves The Crust

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Polar Orbit
Mission: Communications

Polar Orbit Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Dedicated mission for a single communication microsatellite that will enable specific frequencies to support future services from orbit. The launch will be Rocket Lab’s 18th Electron mission.

Infographic

Geoff Barrett is an independent graphic artist that creates launch infographics for space flight events.

Updates

Nosu • Jan. 20, 2021, 9:12 a.m.

Successful launch


SwGustav • Jan. 20, 2021, 1:25 a.m.

Updating T-0


SwGustav • Jan. 18, 2021, 3:22 a.m.

Setting GO


Electron

Family: Electron
Configuration:

Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.

See Electron Details
Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    2
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    18.0 m
  • Diameter
    1.2 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    1.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    13 T
  • Thrust
    162 kN
Family
  • Name
    Electron
  • Family
    Electron
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Electron
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $6000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    300 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    225 kg

Rocket Lab

Circle Image
CEO: Peter Beck Founded: 2006 Successes: 37 Failures: 4 Pending: 32

Agency Type: Commercial

Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. Electron currently launches from only Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand however a second launch complex in the US is under development.

INFO WIKI

Related News

SpaceNews

Rocket Lab launches secretive communications satellite for OHB

ocket Lab successfully launched a communications satellite for German company OHB Group Jan. 20 in the first Electron mission of the year.

Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab launches communications satellite for OHB

A mysterious small satellite built by the German company OHB, purported to be a pathfinder for a Chinese-owned communications constellation, took off from New Zealand Wednesday and soared into orbit on top of a Rocket Lab Electron launcher.

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Another One Leaves The Crust begins busy year for Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab started its busiest year with the dedicated launch of a micro-satellite aboard their Electron rocket for OHB Group on Wednesday.

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Smallsat launch providers readying for first missions of 2021

Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab teams are gearing up for missions as soon as next week, with Virgin’s air-launched rocket set for its second demonstration flight and Rocket Lab’s Electron booster poised to launch a small German-owned communica…

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Virgin Orbit, Rocket Lab schedule first launches of 2021

Virgin Orbit has rescheduled its second orbital launch attempt for Jan. 10 as another small launch vehicle company, Rocket Lab, announces plans for its first launch of 2021.

Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A


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