Electron

Rocket Lab prepares to launch fourth satellite for Japanese Earth-imaging company, Synspective

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket prepares to launch the ‘Owl Night Long’ mission for Japan-based company, Synspective. Image: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is preparing to launch its third Electron mission of the year and its fourth for Japanese Earth-imaging company, Synspective. The mission, dubbed “Owl Night Long,” is set to lift off on March 13 …

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Rocket Lab Electron rocket to launch space debris removal mission

The ADRAS-J satellite approaches the discarded H-2A rocket stage in this artist’s impression. Image: Astroscale. A small satellite that will inspect a discarded rocket body in orbit is scheduled to lift off Sunday/Monday on a mission to develop techniques for removing space debris. The satellite built by Japan-based Astroscale will launch atop a Rocket Lab …

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Rocket Lab launches first recovery Electron mission of 2024

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket lifts off from New Zealand on the company’s first flight of 2024. Image: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab was back in action on Wednesday, kicking off its launch year with a recovery Electron mission from New Zealand. This was its second return to flight mission following a mishap late last year. …

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Live coverage: Rocket Lab’s prepares return-to-flight Electron launch

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket stands ready to launch on Dec. 15 from New Zealand. This return to flight mission will be the 42nd launch of an Electron rocket to date and the tenth in 2023. Image: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is ready for the first flight of its Electron rocket, since a failure on …

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Electron rocket uses previously-flown engine for launch radar-imaging satellite

Rocket Lab launched its 40th Electron mission Wednesday, Aug. 23, after a switch to a recoverable rocket, which was fitted for the first time with a previously-flown engine. The rocket lifted off from the company’s privately-owned spaceport on the North Island of New Zealand, carrying a radar-imaging satellite, at 7:45 p.m. EDT (11:45 a.m. NZST …

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Rocket Lab’s 40th Electron rocket readied for second launch attempt

Rocket Lab’s 40th Electron rocket stands ready for launch on LC-1B, a the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. Image: Rocket Lab. Rocket Lab will make another attempt to launch its 40th Electron rocket Sunday after a last-second abort on July 30. The small satellite launcher, carrying a radar-imaging satellite, is scheduled to liftoff from the Mahia …

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NASA’s final two TROPICS CubeSats launched by Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher lifts off from Launch Complex 1B in New Zealand with NASA’s fifth and sixth TROPICS hurricane research satellites. Credit: Rocket Lab 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 …

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Electron rocket launches pair of cyclone-tracking CubeSats for NASA

Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher lifts off with two of NASA’s TROPICS hurricane research satellites. Credit: Rocket Lab 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 …

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Twin TROPICS satellites set to be lofted into orbit

Artist’s illustration of two TROPICS satellites collecting data on hurricanes. Credit: NASA 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 (U.S. time) after a delay due to unfavorable weather at the the company’s New Zealand spaceport. Originally …

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Rocket Lab recovers booster again after launch with BlackSky satellites

An Electron rocket lifts off Friday with two BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites. Credit: Rocket Lab 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. …

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