Rocket Lab – Page 6 – Spaceflight Now

NASA selects proposals to demonstrate in-space refueling and propellant depot tech

October 16, 2020 Stephen Clark

NASA has selected 14 companies for contracts of more than $370 million to advance technology for human missions to the moon and Mars. Most of the money will support flight demonstrations by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and other companies that could lead to in-space refueling and propellant depots for reusable lunar landers and deep space transportation vehicles.

Radar imagery released from Capella’s Sequoia satellite

October 9, 2020 Stephen Clark

Capella Space has released the first images from its Sequoia radar remote sensing spacecraft, a commercial imaging platform that launched in August as the first of a constellation that could number 36 radar observation satellites.

Hints of life renew interest in Venus, and a private mission could lead the way

September 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

The announcement Monday of the discovery of phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus — an indicator of possible life — has raised hopes among scientists for new robotic missions to renew exploration of Earth’s planetary neighbor. If Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck gets his way, a privately-funded mission could get the next crack at probing Venus’s soupy atmosphere.

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.

Rocket Lab satellite launch fails before reaching orbit

July 4, 2020 Stephen Clark

A failure during the second stage burn of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket caused seven small commercial satellites to crash back to Earth Saturday following liftoff from New Zealand.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab confirms launch failure after liftoff with seven satellites

July 4, 2020 Stephen Clark

Seven small satellites from Canon Electronics, Planet and In-Space Missions launched from New Zealand on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket Saturday at 5:19:36 p.m. EDT (2119:36 GMT), but the payloads and launch vehicle were lost after a problem during the second stage burn.

Rocket Lab plans next launch Saturday, closes in on first mission from Virginia

July 3, 2020 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab is readying for a launch from its New Zealand spaceport Saturday (U.S. time) with seven commercial satellites from Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom, while teams at Wallops Island, Virginia, move closer to Rocket Lab’s first launch there as soon as August.