Electron – Spaceflight Now

April 26, 2025

Breaking News

[ April 25, 2025 ] Axiom Space’s Chief Revenue Officer tapped as new CEO News
[ April 23, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
[ April 21, 2025 ] SpaceX’s rideshare Bandwagon-3 mission marks the 300th orbital flight from Cape Canaveral’s pad 40 Falcon 9
[ April 20, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 32nd resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station Falcon 9
[ April 19, 2025 ] SpaceX launches third NRO mission in eight days Falcon 9

Rocket Lab launches 8 wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech on Electron rocket

March 26, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

These first eight satellites are part of OroraTech’s plan to deploy up to 100 satellites by 2028. Liftoff from Mahia, New Zealand happened at 4:30 a.m. NZT on March 27 (11:30 a.m. EDT, 1530 UTC on March 26).

Rocket Lab launches BlackSky Gen-3 satellite on 60th Electron flight

February 18, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, dubbed ‘Fasten Your Space Belts,’ was Rocket Lab’s second launch of the year and its ninth launch supporting BlackSky as a customer. Liftoff from New Zealand happened at 12:17 p.m. NZDT on Feb. 19 (6:17 p.m. EST, 2317 UCT on Feb. 18).

Rocket Lab launches first Electron rocket of 2025 from New Zealand

February 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission was the company’s 59th Electron rocket launch to date. Liftoff of the ‘IoT 4 You and Me’ mission happened at 9:43 a.m. NZDT on Feb. 9 (3:43 p.m. EST, 2043 UTC on Feb. 8).

Rocket Lab, Orora Technologies contract for “responsive launch” ahead of main 2025 wildfire season

January 24, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The eight satellites will also fulfill a concept study contract awarded to OroraTech and Spire Global by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in October 2024. A specific launch date hasn’t been announced, but Rocket Lab said the Electron rocket launch would happen in “just a few weeks.”

Rocket Lab launches 5 Internet of Things satellites following mid-week scrub

September 18, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will be the 53rd launch of an Electron rocket to date. Liftoff from Launch Complex 1 Pad A happened on Sept. 21 at 11:01 a.m. NZST (Sept. 20 at 7:01 p.m. EDT, 2301 UTC).

Rocket Lab launches 5th mission for Japanese Earth observation company, Synspective

August 2, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The Electron rocket carried a StriX satellite to low Earth orbit as part of Synspective’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. Liftoff happened on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 4:39 a.m. NZT (Friday, Aug. 2, at 12:39 p.m. EDT, 1639 UTC).

Rocket Lab successfully launches its 50th Electron rocket

June 20, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket made history by reaching its 50th launch faster than any other commercially developed orbital launch vehicle. Liftoff from New Zealand took place at 6:13 a.m. NZST on Friday, June 21 (2:13 p.m. EDT, 1813 UTC on Thursday, June 20).

Rocket Lab launches first of NASA’s climate-monitoring PREFIRE spacecraft

May 24, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The two missions will be launched within roughly three weeks of one another from New Zealand. Liftoff of the Electron rocket with the PREFIRE-1 satellite occurred at 7:41 p.m. NZST (3:41 a.m. EDT, 0741 UTC) on Saturday.

Rocket Lab launches NASA, Korean payloads on Electron flight

April 23, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) will test materials and a deployable system for a solar sail-style propulsion system. Liftoff from New Zealand happened at 10:32 a.m. NZT on April 24 (6:32 p.m. EDT, 2232 UTC on April 23).

Rocket Lab launches fourth satellite for Japanese Earth-imaging company, Synspective

March 12, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will the third launch for Rocket Lab this year and the fourth to date as part of a multi-launch contract with Synspective. Liftoff from Rocket Lab Launch Complex-1 in Mahia, New Zealand is set for 4:03 a.m. NZDT on March 13 (11:03 a.m. EDT, 1503 UTC on March 12).