August 25, 2025
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Breaking News
  • [ August 24, 2025 ] SpaceX scrubs crucial 10th test flight of Starship News
  • [ August 24, 2025 ] NASA, SpaceX launch Dragon to the ISS on extended cargo, station boosting mission Falcon 9
  • [ August 23, 2025 ] Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX to launch Cargo Dragon on a mission to boost space station orbit Falcon 9
  • [ August 22, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
  • [ August 22, 2025 ] SpaceX launches Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane to demo laser communications, quantum navigation Falcon 9

It’s a Test

Mission Reports

Rocket Lab finishes test flight inquiry, plans second launch later this year

August 13, 2017 Stephen Clark

The inaugural test flight of Rocket Lab’s commercial small satellite booster in May fell short of orbit because a software programming error on a piece of ground equipment led a safety officer to send a premature termination command, and the company is planning to deliver the next Electron vehicle to its New Zealand launch pad in October.

Members

Q&A with Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab

August 11, 2017 Stephen Clark

Peter Beck, the founder and chief executive of Rocket Lab, recently discussed the outcome of the company’s first attempted orbital test flight and plans for future missions.

Mission Reports

Rocket Lab chief says maiden launch result maintains pace for commercial service

May 30, 2017 Stephen Clark

The result of last week’s inaugural test flight of Rocket Lab’s Electron satellite launcher from New Zealand, which reached space but was unable to enter orbit, positions the company for two more demonstration missions in the coming months before the privately-operated booster enters commercial service by the end of the year, Rocket Lab’s chief executive said.

Mission Reports

Videos: Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket lifts off for first time

May 25, 2017 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab’s Electron commercial satellite launcher lifted off from New Zealand on its debut test flight Thursday and soared into space on its maiden mission.

Mission Reports

Maiden flight of Rocket Lab’s small satellite launcher reaches space

May 25, 2017 Stephen Clark

The debut launch of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from a privately-operated base in New Zealand made it to space Thursday, proving the performance of major parts of the booster before faltering short of the velocity it needed to enter orbit, the company said in a statement.

Mission Reports

Small satellite launcher set for first orbital test flight this week

May 20, 2017 Stephen Clark

The first test flight of Rocket Lab’s commercially-developed Electron launcher was held up by weather Sunday, but conditions could improve for a launch attempt Monday from New Zealand to place an instrumented rocket stage into Earth orbit in a demonstration of the company’s low-cost delivery system for lightweight satellites.

News Headlines

  • SpaceX scrubs crucial 10th test flight of Starship
    August 24, 2025
  • NASA, SpaceX launch Dragon to the ISS on extended cargo, station boosting mission
    August 24, 2025
  • Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX to launch Cargo Dragon on a mission to boost space station orbit
    August 23, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    August 22, 2025
  • SpaceX launches Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane to demo laser communications, quantum navigation
    August 22, 2025
  • Launch preview: SpaceX to launch X-37B military spaceplane on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center
    August 20, 2025
  • Firefly Aerospace explores launching its Alpha rocket from Japan
    August 20, 2025
  • SpaceX flies 24 Starlink satellites on its 100th Falcon 9 rocket launch of 2025
    August 17, 2025
  • SpaceX schedules 10th test flight for Starship, details recent setbacks
    August 16, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    August 14, 2025
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