Tag: Electron
-
Rocket Lab launches Electron Flight 9 as work on new U.S. pad continues
On Thursday, Rocket Lab launched its workhorse Electron rocket on its ninth total mission since its debut in 2017, and its fifth mission in 2019 – the most for the company to date. The payload consisted of a single satellite provided by California’s Astro Digital as part of a dedicated flight. The 14-day launch window…
-
Rocket Lab preps for commercial satellite launch this week
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket underwent a wet dress rehearsal Oct. 3 on its launch pad in New Zealand. Credit: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab’s fifth flight of the year is set for liftoff as soon as Wednesday (U.S. time) carrying a small experimental satellite to orbit for Astro Digital, a Silicon Valley company aiming to demonstrate…
-
Rocket Lab launches Electron flight 8. Company previews first stage recovery
Rocket Lab has conducted the launch its Electron rocket on its eighth mission, launching from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. For this mission, Electron lofted four satellites into orbit for UnseenLabs and Spaceflight. The first attempt was scrubbed due to unacceptable ground winds, before recycling for a Monday launch. Electron…
-
Rocket Lab launch fulfills initial block of BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket streaks into the sky over Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand in this long exposure image. Credit: Rocket Lab The fourth and last spacecraft in BlackSky’s initial flock of commercial Earth-imaging microsatellites successfully launched Monday aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket with three other payloads, setting the stage for the final assembly…
-
Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches four satellites
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand carrying four small satellites into orbit on a rideshare mission arranged by Spaceflight and Rocket Lab. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. Rocket Lab’s live video webcast begins approximately 15 minutes…
-
Smallsat companies teaming up on deorbit experiment
Artist’s concept of a satellite manufactured by Millennium Space Systems. Credit: Millennium Space Systems TriSept Corp. has announced plans for a commercial technology demonstration mission set for launch next year on a Rocket Lab Electron vehicle to test a deployable conductive tape, made by Tethers Unlimited, that could help small satellites more quickly fall out…
-
Rocket Lab to begin booster recovery experiments later this year
Rocket Lab’s next launch from New Zealand, set for Friday, will carry a data recorder to measure the aerothermal environments encountered by the Electron launcher’s first stage during descent back into the atmosphere, information engineers say is crucial to successfully achieving the company’s newly-announced plan to recover and reuse the booster. The U.S.-New Zealand…
-
Rocket Lab announces August launch with commercial and military satellites
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated with orbital parameters, and identities of the U.S. Air Force Command satellites. The first stage for Rocket Lab’s next Electron launch. Credit: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab’s next launch from New Zealand in August will carry four small spacecraft into orbit for BlackSky’s Earth-imaging constellation, the U.S. Air Force, and a French startup developing…
-
Made in Space wins NASA contract to 3D-print satellite structures in orbit
NASA awarded a $73.7 million contract Friday to the California-based startup Made in Space for a 3D-printing demonstration using a free-flying small satellite to additively manufacture solar array beams in space. Made in Space’s satellite mission, named Archinaut One, will have the ability to 3D-print its own structures in orbit. The small satellite is…
-
Rocket Lab conducts Spaceflight Inc. Rideshare Mission with Electron launch
Rocket Lab launched its third Electron rocket launch of the year on Saturday. The seventh flight of Electron, named “Make It Rain,” carried seven satellites for Spaceflight Inc. Daily launch windows from 04:30 to 06:30 UTC began on June 27. However, the launch moved to Saturday (local time) after a 48 hour delay due to…