Tag: Electron
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Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket Successfully Launches BlackSky Gen-3 Imaging Satellite
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket successfully placed a BlackSky high-resolution imaging satellite into orbit during a launch from its New Zealand facility. The launch occurred at 7:57 p.m. Eastern from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The Gen-3 satellite deployed 52 minutes after liftoff from the rocket’s kick stage into a circular orbit approximately 470 kilometers…
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Launch Roundup: Rocket Lab launches 65th Electron, SpaceX launches four missions
SpaceX continued to dominate the launch manifest with four missions this week, including SXM-10, and three Starlink launches from various locations around the globe. Additionally, Rocket Lab conducted its 65th Electron flight, transporting the BlackSky Gen-3 satellite to orbit on the “Full Stream Ahead” mission. Meanwhile, China launched a Chang Zheng 6A to a polar…
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Rocket Lab launches BlackSky’s next Gen-3 satellite on Electron rocket from New Zealand
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket lifts off from New Zealand to begin the ‘Full Stream Ahead’ mission on June 2, 2025. Image: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab successfully launched its 65th Electron rocket to date on a mission in support of its customer, BlackSky, and the next launch for its Gen-3 satellite constellation. Teams launched the…
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Launch Roundup: Chinese asteroid mission, and Falcon 9 launch
This week, China launched a near-Earth asteroid sample return mission amongst several other missions. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab has postponed the launch its Electron rocket from New Zealand until June 3 for additional checks and bad weather. Coming off the launch of Starship’s ninth flight test on Tuesday, SpaceX launched several Starlink missions. The company also…
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Rocket Lab achieves multiple milestones in Neutron development
Rocket Lab is making rapid progress in its quest to get its medium-lift launcher, Neutron, ready for launch by the second half of this year. Multiple tests of both the first and second stages of the rocket are in progress, contracts are being awarded for Rocket Lab to secure, and the Launch Complex 3 pad…
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Launch Roundup: Orbital launches from five countries planned
On the heels of a busy April, activity is ramping up for May with launches from five countries and six launch sites on three continents this week. A new orbital launch site in Australia was scheduled to make its debut, but was delayed due to an issue with the launch vehicle, while launches from sites…
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Rocket Lab to debut point-to-point cargo transportation capability on 2026 Air Force mission
An artist’s rendering of a Rocket Lab Neutron rocket during stage separation. Illustration: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is looking to demonstrate the reusability of its forthcoming Neutron rocket next year with a so-called ‘return-to-Earth’ mission no earlier than 2026. Ahead of its first quarter 2025 earnings call on Thursday, the company announced a new contract…
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Rocket Lab launches 8 wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech on Electron rocket
An artist’s depiction of an OroraTech OTC-P1 satellite in low Earth orbit. Graphic: OroraTech via Rocket Lab Update 12:35 p.m. EDT: Rocket Lab confirms successful deployment of all eight satellites. Rocket Lab completed its fifth Electron rocket launch of the year, this time with a mission to send eight fire detection satellites into low Earth…
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Launch Roundup: Spectrum, Electron, and Falcon 9 fly missions
This week included three launches scheduled for Wednesday and the third Electron rocket to fly within 12 days. SpaceX kicked off the week with the launch of a classified mission on Monday. Two Starlink missions also flew alongside two others from China this week. Firefly Aerospace postponed the sixth flight of its Alpha rocket, following…
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Launch Roundup: SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Firefly set to launch amid busy launch manifest
This week, a busy launch manifest saw SpaceX launch the Crew-10 and two Starlink missions from Florida and the delayed SPHEREx/PUNCH and Transporter 13 missions from California. Outside of the United States, Rocket Lab flew an Electron from New Zealand. A Chang Zhang 8 rocket launched from a new commercial pad in China which also…