Electron 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).