Rocket Lab – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

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).

Rocket Lab launches first recovery Electron mission of 2024

January 31, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, nicknamed “Four of a Kind” was also deemed a successful recovery mission. Liftoff of the Electron rocket from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand occurred at 19:34 UTC.

Rocket Lab successfully completes return-to-flight Electron launch

December 14, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Rocket Lab launched its first flight of the Electron rocket since a failure on Sept. 19. The 42nd mission for the small-satellite launcher lifted off on Dec. 15 from New Zealand 1705 NZDT (0405 UTC or 11:05 p.m. EST).

Radar-imaging satellite lost as Rocket Lab Electron rocket suffers launch failure

September 19, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket, carrying a radar-imaging satellite for Capella Space, failed on Tuesday after a problem occurred two and half minutes into flight. It was the fourth failure in 41 flights for the small satellite launcher.

NASA’s final two TROPICS CubeSats launched by Rocket Lab

May 26, 2023 Stephen Clark

The last two spacecraft in a four-satellite constellation of tropical cyclone research platforms took off late Thursday from New Zealand on a Rocket Lab Electron launcher, helping ensure NASA’s TROPICS mission is ready for observations in time for the peak of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches NASA’s final two TROPICS satellites

May 25, 2023 Stephen Clark

NASA’s final pair of TROPICS hurricane research satellites lifted off on a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle from New Zealand on Thursday night (U.S. time). The two identical shoebox-size spacecraft launched at 11:46 p.m. EDT Thursday (0346 UTC Friday) from Rocket Lab’s privately-owned spaceport on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand.

Electron rocket launches pair of cyclone-tracking CubeSats for NASA

May 8, 2023 Clive Simpson

The first pair of four NASA CubeSats designed to provide frequent updates of typhoon and hurricane development for new insights into how tropical storms evolve and intensify were launched by Rocket Lab from its New Zealand spaceport on Sunday.

Twin TROPICS satellites set to be lofted into orbit

May 5, 2023 Clive Simpson

Rocket Lab’s launch of NASA’s second pair of TROPICS hurricane research satellites, reassigned from Astra following a launch failure last year, has been rescheduled for Sunday after a delay due to unfavorable weather at the the company’s New Zealand spaceport.

Rocket Lab recovers booster again after launch with BlackSky satellites

March 24, 2023 Stephen Clark

Two BlackSky optical Earth-imaging satellites rode an Electron launcher into orbit Friday from New Zealand, while the Electron’s first stage booster gently parachuted into the Pacific Ocean as engineers consider abandoning airborne rocket recovery in favor of ship-based retrieval and reuse.