Articles by Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab launched its 40th Electron mission Wednesday, Aug. 23, after a switch to a recoverable rocket, which was fitted for the first time with a previously-flown engine. The rocket lifted off from the company’s privately-owned spaceport on the North Island of New Zealand, carrying a radar-imaging satellite, at 7:45 p.m. EDT (11:45 a.m. NZST on the 24th / 2345 UTC).

Rocket Lab announced on Wednesday its 40th Electron mission was switching to a recoverable rocket, fitted for the first time with a previously flown engine. The surprise move came after two launch scrubs blamed on engine sensor glitches. The rocket lifted off from the company’s privately-owned spaceport on the North Island of New Zealand at 7:45 p.m. EDT (11:45 a.m. NZST on the 24th / 2345 UTC).