Rocket Lab

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’s Mars-bound twin satellites – Blue and Gold – hit the road ahead of Blue Origin launch

August 16, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The twin spacecraft, named Blue and Gold, left Rocket Lab’s Long Beach facilities on Thursday to begin the trip to Florida. The EscaPADE mission will launch aboard Blue Origin’s first New Glenn rocket.

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).