Watch the Launch

Additional Media

Rocket Lab Electron - Lift-off WITH SOUND

First HQ video we've found of the liftoff, from a pad camera - with sound. Attribution: Rocket Lab USA These images are copyright works owned by Rocket Lab. You are permitted to access, view, copy, ...

Rocket Lab Test Flight 1: View from the rocket #ItsaTest

Attribution: Rocket Lab USA These images are copyright works owned by Rocket Lab. You are permitted to access, view, copy, download and publish these images for non-commercial (including media reporti...

Rocket Lab Test Flight 1: Launch Pad (Medium-angle)

Rocket Lab Test Flight 1: View from base of launch pad

Rocket Lab Test Flight 1: Wide-angle view of launch pad, tracking antennae

It's a Test - Lift Off!

It's a Test

It's a Test was the first launch of Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle. When Electron lifted-off at 16:20 NZT from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand, it became the first orbital-class rocket launched from from a private launch site.

It's a Test

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Low Earth Orbit Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand #ItsaTest

This is the first test flight of the Electron rocket. Built and operated by Rocket Lab, Electron is meant to offer low-price launches for the small-sat market.

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
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Variant
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Alias
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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

(RL)

CEO: Peter Beck Founded: 2006 Successes: 80 Failures: 4 Pending: 42

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

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

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