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Still Testing Launch - 01/21/2018

Rocket Lab has successfully reached orbit with the test flight of its second Electron orbital launch vehicle, Still Testing. Electron lifted-off at 14:43 NZD...

Still Testing

The Still Testing mission was Rocket Lab's first orbital launch of the Electron vehicle. Electron lifted-off at 14:43 NZDT from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. The launch marked the beginning of a new era in commercial access to space.

Still Testing (Dove Pioneer, 2 x Lemur-2)

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Low Earth Orbit Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand #StillTesting

The second test flight of the Electron small satellite launch vehicle. It is also the first Electron flight to carry commercial payload. It includes a Dove cubesat for company Planet intended for Earth observation. And also two Lemur-2 cubesats for company Spire which carry payloads for meteorology and ship traffic tracking.

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.

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 Ltd

CEO: Peter Beck Founded: 2006 Successes: 23 Failures: 3 Pending: 14

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 they are currently looking into developing a facility in the US.

INFO WIKI

Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

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