Watch the Launch

Additional Media

Finding Hot Wildfires Near You (OroraTech OTC-P1)

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Earth Science

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

8 satellites for a constellation of satellites developed by Orora Technologies (OroraTech) of Germany, with thermal infrared cameras that can provide 24/7 monitoring of wildfires globally, supporting better and faster wildfire response to protect forests, people, and infrastructure worldwide. The company plans to expand their constellation with up to 100 satellites in total by 2028.

Updates


hitura-nobad • March 26, 2025, 4:27 p.m.

All payloads deployed.


hitura-nobad • March 26, 2025, 3:31 p.m.

Liftoff!


LL2 • March 26, 2025, 3 p.m.

Official Webcast by Rocket Lab has started


Cosmic_Penguin • March 20, 2025, 9:39 a.m.

Changed NET launch date.


Electron

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

Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab

(RL)

CEO: Peter Beck Founded: 2006 Successes: 72 Failures: 4 Pending: 44

Agency Type:

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. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.

INFO WIKI

Related News

Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab to launch 8 wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech on Electron rocket

These first eight satellites are part of OroraTech’s plan to deploy up to 100 satellites by 2028. Liftoff from Mahia, New Zealand is set for 4:30 a.m. NZT on March 27 (11:30 a.m. EDT, 1530 UTC on March 26).

SpaceNews

Rocket Lab launches eight OroraTech satellites

Rocket Lab launched eight satellites for a German company that is expanding its constellation to detect and track wildfires. The post Rocket Lab launches eight OroraTech satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASASpaceflight

Launch Roundup: Alpha, Spectrum, Electron, and Falcon 9 set to fly

The week ahead includes four launches scheduled for Wednesday and the third Electron rocket to… The post Launch Roundup: Alpha, Spectrum, Electron, and Falcon 9 set to fly appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab, Orora Technologies contract for “responsive launch” ahead of main 2025 wildfire season

The eight satellites will also fulfill a concept study contract awarded to OroraTech and Spire Global by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in October 2024. A specific launch date hasn't been announced, but Rocket Lab said the Electron rocke…

SpaceNews

Rocket Lab to launch OroraTech satellites

Rocket Lab announced Jan. 22 a contract to launch a set of wildfire-monitoring satellites for German company OroraTech on a short turnaround. The post Rocket Lab to launch OroraTech satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B


Zhuque-3
Success
1 day, 9 hours ago
Demo Flight
Launch Area 96B - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

First test launch of LandSpace’s ZQ-3 rocket, with a dummy payload. The rocket’s 1st stage will attempt to land on a landing pad about 300 km downran…


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 14 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-95
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 7 hours ago
Starlink Group 15-10
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Vega-C
Success
2 days, 19 hours ago
KOMPSAT-7
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

KOMPSAT-7 is the follow-up model of KOMPSAT-3A whose mission is to provide high-resolution satellite images to satisfy South-Korea's governmental and…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 5 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-86
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 7A
Success
4 days ago
Shijian 28
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Classified experimental Chinese satellite of unknown purposes.


Falcon 9
Success
5 days, 18 hours ago
Transporter 15 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare)
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Dedicated rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.


Soyuz 2.1a
Success
1 week ago
Soyuz MS-28
31/6 - Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Soyuz MS-28 will carry three cosmonauts and one astronaut to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome…


Nuri
Success
1 week ago
CAS500-3
LC-2 - Naro Space Center, South Korea

CAS500-3 is a South Korean Earth observation satellites to be used by the Ministry of Science and ICT for space technology verification and space sci…


Angara 1.2
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
3 x Rodnik (Kosmos 2597, 2598, 2599)
35/1 - Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Note: Payload identity and Cosmos series numbering not confirmed. The Strela (Russian: Стрела) are Soviet, then Russian, military space telecommun…