New Zealand – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab to attempt booster recovery on next mission

November 5, 2020 Stephen Clark

On its next mission set for liftoff later this month, Rocket Lab will try to recover the first stage of its Electron small satellite launcher after parachuting into the Pacific Ocean downrange from the company’s privately-run spaceport in New Zealand, officials announced Thursday.

Rocket Lab successfully launches satellites for Planet and Canon

October 28, 2020 Stephen Clark

An experimental satellite for Canon Electronics and nine Earth-imaging CubeSats for Planet fired into orbit from New Zealand on Wednesday on top of a Rocket Lab Electron booster, taking the place of similar spacecraft destroyed in a Rocket Lab launch failure in July.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches 10 small satellites

October 28, 2020 Stephen Clark

A week after scrubbing a launch attempt to evaluate an issue with an oxygen sensor, Rocket Lab launched a mission Wednesday to deliver 10 small commercial Earth observation satellites to orbit. Liftoff of the Electron booster from Rocket Lab’s spaceport in New Zealand occurred at 5:21 p.m. EDT (2121 GMT).

Rocket Lab calls off launch attempt in New Zealand

October 21, 2020 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab canceled a launch attempt Wednesday in New Zealand to evaluate unexpected sensor data, postponing a mission that will deliver 10 small commercial Earth-imaging satellites to orbit.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab scrubs launch of 10 commercial smallsats

October 21, 2020 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab scrubbed a planned launch from New Zealand Wednesday with 10 small Earth observation satellites for customers in the United States and Japan. Officials have not confirmed a new target launch date for the Electron rocket.

Ten satellites set to ride into orbit with Rocket Lab

October 21, 2020 Stephen Clark

Ten commercial Earth-imaging satellites are mounted on top of a Rocket Lab Electron launcher for liftoff Wednesday from New Zealand.

Rocket Lab returns to service with successful launch for Capella

August 31, 2020 Stephen Clark

Flying for the first time since a failure in early July, Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher delivered Capella Space’s first commercial radar remote sensing satellite to orbit after lifting off from New Zealand Sunday.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches Capella’s first commercial radar satellite

August 30, 2020 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab’s first mission since a failed launch in early July took off at 11:05 p.m. EDT Sunday (0305 GMT Monday) from New Zealand. The small satellite launcher carried into orbit a commercial radar remote sensing spacecraft for Capella Space.

Amid shuffling schedules, Capella to fly its first commercial satellite with Rocket Lab

August 30, 2020 Stephen Clark

After switching rockets two times due to launch delays, Capella Space is set to launch the first spacecraft in a constellation of commercial radar reconnaissance satellites from New Zealand Sunday on a Rocket Lab Electron booster.

Rocket Lab identifies faulty electrical connector as cause of launch failure

July 31, 2020 Stephen Clark

A detached electrical connector on the second stage of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket caused a failure on a July 4 mission that destroyed seven small commercial satellites, but the company said Friday it is on track to resume launching before the end of August.