Another One Leaves the Crust

Live coverage: Rocket Lab scrubs launch from New Zealand

January 16, 2021

Rocket Lab scrubbed a launch attempt Saturday for its first mission of 2021 to review sensor data. Officials did not immediately set a new target launch date. The company’s light-class Electron rocket is set for launch from New Zealand with a small clandestine satellite for OHB, a German aerospace company.

Rocket Lab set to launch super-secret satellite for German company

January 15, 2021

A small communications satellite built by the German company OHB — a payload so secret that no one has officially disclosed its name or end user — is set to ride a Rocket Lab Electron launcher into orbit Saturday from New Zealand.

Smallsat launch providers readying for first missions of 2021

January 10, 2021

Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab teams are gearing up for their first missions of the year in the coming days, with Virgin’s air-launched rocket set for its second demonstration flight and Rocket Lab’s Electron booster poised to launch a small German-owned communications satellite.