Electron is a two-stage small-lift launch vehicle built and operated by Rocket Lab. The rocket has been launched to orbit 51 times with 47 successes and four failures. A suborbital version of the rocket, HASTE, has been successfully launched one time.
The first flight, known as "It's a Test", launched on 25 May 2017. The mission failed due to a glitch in communication equipment on the ground. Successful follow-on missions, including "Still Testing", "It's Business Time" and "This One's For Pickering", delivered multiple small payloads to low Earth orbit. Flight 26 was the first Electron flight to attempt a full catch recovery using a mid-air helicopter catch. "Scout's Arrow" was the first suborbital launch of the rocket.
In July 2019, Rocket Lab expected to have launches every two weeks in 2020. [1] In June 2020, with a new Electron launch vehicle built every 18 days, Rocket Lab was planning to deliver monthly launches for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021, including the company's first launch from Wallops LC-2 in 2023 and a mission to the Moon for NASA aboard Electron and Rocket Lab's spacecraft bus platform Photon in 2022. [2]
Launch outcomes6 12 18 24 30 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
| Launch sites2 4 6 8 10 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
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Booster tests and recoveries2 4 6 8 10 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
| Rocket configurations2 4 6 8 10 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
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Electron launched for the first time in May 2017, [3] but the rocket was destroyed by the range safety officer after a telemetry loss, which was later attributed to a ground software failure. [4] [5] Electron experienced its first successful launch in January 2018, [6] and launched their first mission for NASA in December 2018. [7] [8]
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "It's a Test" | 25 May 2017, 04:20 [3] | Mahia, LC-1A | None | None | 500 km, 85° LEO | Rocket Lab (flight test) | Failure | No attempt |
The rocket successfully launched and performed first stage separation and fairing separation. After reaching an altitude of about 224 kilometres (139 mi) (planned 500 kilometres (310 mi) at 85° inclination), [9] the telemetry feed to the range safety officer was lost and the rocket was destroyed by range safety officer. [4] [5] Post-flight analysis determined the issue to be a simple ground software failure rather than a problem with the rocket. [4] The ground software issue was found to be a contractor's failure to enable forward error correction on their hardware leading to data corruption. [4] [5] Rocket Lab made no changes to the Electron vehicle and instead implemented adjustment to procedures to prevent similar problems. [4] | |||||||||
2 | "Still Testing" | 21 January 2018, 01:43 [6] | Mahia, LC-1A | 13 kg (29 lb) [11] | 400 km, 82.9° LEO | Success | No attempt | ||
Carrying CubeSats for Planet Labs and Spire Global. [12] The two Lemur-2 satellites were put into a circularized orbit by the new "Electron kick stage" which was not announced until after the launch. [13] Between December 2017 and January 2018 the launch was delayed six times due to weather, orbital traffic, rocket, and range safety issues. [14] [15] [16] [17] Put Lemur-2 payloads into 500 km (310 mi) high orbit at 85.0° inclination while the Dove Pioneer satellite was put into a 289 km (180 mi) x 533 km (331 mi). [9] [18] | |||||||||
3 | "It's Business Time" [19] | 11 November 2018, 03:50 | Mahia, LC-1A [19] [20] | Approx 45 kilograms (99 lb) [11] | 500 km, 85° LEO |
| Success | No attempt | |
The 11 November 2018 launch was successful; all cubesats planned to be deployed were deployed in orbit. The launch, originally planned for April 2018, had been delayed several times: to June/July after unusual behavior was identified in a motor controller during a wet dress rehearsal, [19] [22] by a few days after a ground tracking antenna issue in the Chatham Island tracking station [24] and indefinitely after another motor controller issue. [25] [26] In October 2018, a nine-day launch window was announced starting 11 November 2018. [27] | |||||||||
4 | "This One's For Pickering" [28] | 16 December 2018, 06:33 [7] | Mahia, LC-1A | 78 kg (172 lb) [29] | 500 km, 85° LEO | NASA [30] | Success | No attempt | |
Multiple CubeSats for the NASA-sponsored ELaNa-19 mission. [30] They were deployed from RailPOD dispensers. Was the first NASA mission for Rocket Lab. [8] | |||||||||
Electron launched 6 times, all successfully, in 2019. First launch for the U.S. Air Force in May.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | "Two Thumbs Up" [31] | 28 March 2019, 23:27 [31] | Mahia, LC-1A | R3D2 [32] | 150 kg (330 lb) [33] | 425 km, 39.5° LEO | DARPA | Success | No attempt |
Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) will qualify a new type of membrane reflectarray antenna. [34] Northrop Grumman serves as the prime contractor for R3D2. Blue Canyon Technologies provided the satellite bus, MMA Design provided the antenna. [35] | |||||||||
6 | "That's a Funny Looking Cactus" [36] | 5 May 2019, 06:00 [37] | Mahia, LC-1A | 180 kilograms (400 lb) [37] | 500 km, 40° LEO | U.S. Air Force | Success | No attempt | |
Launch is part of the "Rapid Agile Launch Initiative" (RALI) for the U.S. Air Force. [38] Was first night launch of an Electron and its heaviest payload up to the time. [39] | |||||||||
7 | "Make it Rain" | 29 June 2019, 04:30 [40] | Mahia, LC-1A |
| 80 kilograms (180 lb) [44] | 450 km, 45° LEO |
| Success | No attempt |
BlackSky Global 3 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites. [42] [43] SpaceBEE cubesats are manufactured by Swarm Technologies to test two-way satellite communication and data relay. SpaceBEE 8 weighs 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) while SpaceBEE 9 weighs 0.7 kg (1.54 lb). [45] [46] | |||||||||
8 | "Look Ma, No Hands" | 19 August 2019, 12:12 [47] | Mahia, LC-1A |
| Approx. 80 kilograms (180 lb) [11] | 510 km, 94.8° LEO |
| Success | No attempt |
Breizh Recon Orbiter (BRO-1) is part of a constellation used for tracking maritime vessels. BlackSky Global 4 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites. The two experimental satellites for Air Force Space Command are part of the "Pearl White" technology demonstration program. [48] [49] | |||||||||
9 | "As the Crow Flies" | 17 October 2019, 01:22 [50] | Mahia, LC-1A | Palisade [51] | Approx. 20 kilograms (44 lb) [11] | 1200 km, 87.9° LEO | Success | No attempt | |
Palisade is a 16U CubeSat technology demonstrator satellite. [51] An upgraded, bi-propellant kick stage lifted the satellite to a 1200 km circular orbit, and then deorbited itself. [53] | |||||||||
10 | "Running Out Of Fingers" | 6 December 2019, 08:18 [54] [55] | Mahia, LC-1A | [55] | Approx. 77 kilograms (170 lb) [11] | 385 x 400 km, 97°LEO | Success | Controlled (atmosphere test) | |
ATL-1 tests thermal insulation in space. FossaSat-1 is a communications satellite that uses low-power radio frequencies to provide internet connectivity. NOOR-1A and NOOR-1B demonstrated intersatellite link technology. SMOG-P uses a spectrum analyzer to measure electromagnetic pollution. TRSI Sat provides flight tracking services. ALE-2 creates artificial shooting star displays. [55] The six satellites other than ALE-2 are PocketQubes, forming Alba Cluster 2 of Alba Orbital. This mission also was the first guided, full telemetry re-entry of the Electron launch vehicle's first stage as part of Rocket Lab's plans to re-use and re-fly rocket boosters in future missions. Recovery instrumentation on-board this flight included guidance and navigation hardware, including S-band telemetry and on-board flight computer systems, to live-gather data during the first stage's atmospheric re-entry, as well as a reaction control system to orient the booster. [56] [57] After the launch Rocket Lab said that the reusability tests were successful. [58] First flight of Electron with a fully autonomous flight termination system on the rocket. [59] |
First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office in January 2020.
First launch of Photon kickstage in August 2020.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | "Birds of a Feather" | 31 January 2020, 02:56 [60] | Mahia, LC-1A | NROL-151 | Classified | 590 km x 610 km, 70.9° LEO | National Reconnaissance Office | Success | Controlled (atmosphere test) |
First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO competitively awarded the contract under the Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) contract vehicle. RASR allows the NRO to explore new launch opportunities that can provide a streamlined, commercial approach for getting small satellites into space. For the second time, the Electron booster survived atmospheric re-entry. Rocket Lab again said that their reusability test was successful. [60] | |||||||||
12 | "Don't Stop Me Now" | 13 June 2020, 05:12:12 [61] | Mahia, LC-1A |
| Classified | 570*590 km, 97.75° LEO | NRO, Boston University / NASA and University of New South Wales Canberra Space and the Royal Australian Air Force. [62] | Success | No attempt [63] |
Part of the ELaNa 32 mission, ANDESITE is a satellite designed to study Earth's magnetic field. The M2 Pathfinder satellite will be a technology demonstration satellite to test communications. The flight will also carry three payloads for the NRO. [64] [65] Rocket Lab does not plan to do any recovery testing. [65] Flight delayed due to COVID-19. [64] A launch attempt on 11 June 2020 was canceled due to bad weather. [66] ANDESITE consists of ANDESITE Mule, a 6U parent spacecraft, and ANDESITE Node 1 to Node 8, small magnetometer subsatellites to be ejected from it to study magnetospheric variation. Each Node is 0.20 x 0.10 x 0.025 m in size with a mass of 0.38 kg. [62] | |||||||||
13 | "Pics Or It Didn't Happen" | 4 July 2020 21:19:36 | Mahia, LC-1A |
| Approx. 75 kg (165 lb) | 500 km, 97.5° SSO |
| Failure | No attempt [67] |
Flight No. 13's name was "Pics Or It Didn't Happen". [2] The 5 SuperDoves were part of Planet's Flock 4e. [68] Flight failed during 2nd stage burn. [69] [70] The issue was found to be a single faulty electrical connection that was not caught during preflight testing. The wiring was intermittently secure leading to increasing resistance causing heating and thermal expansion. This caused softening of potting compounds around the connection leading to a disconnect. The disconnect lead to power being cut from the electric turbopumps needed for the Rutherford engine leading the engine to be shut down. [71] No changes were made to the vehicle but changes were made to "work instructions and quality signoffs". [72] | |||||||||
14 | "I Can't Believe It's Not Optical" | 31 August 2020 03:05:47 [73] | Mahia, LC-1A | 100 kg | 500 km, 45° LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt [67] | |
Return to flight of Electron after the 4 July 2020 launch failure. [74] [75] Launch of a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite, for global imagery. [76] Also launched the Photon satellite bus. [77] | |||||||||
15 | "In Focus" [78] | 28 October 2020 21:21:27 [79] | Mahia, LC-1A |
| 72 kg | 500 km, 97.5° SSO | Success | No attempt [67] | |
After satellite deployed kick stage changed orbital inclination. [80] | |||||||||
16 | "Return To Sender" [81] | 20 November 2020 02:20:01 [79] | Mahia, LC-1A |
| 200 kg | 500 km, 97.3° SSO |
| Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
First Electron to attempt a soft ocean landing by parachute with the booster and recovery by vessel. [82] | |||||||||
17 | "The Owl's Night Begins" [83] | 15 December 2020 10:09:27 [84] | Mahia, LC-1A | StriX-α | 150 kg | 500 km, 97.3° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Test satellite weighing 150 kg (330 lb) using synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) from a Japanese company. Part of a future constellation of 25 satellites to provide global coverage. Satellite was encompassed in an expanded fairing. [85] First of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | |||||||||
First launch for US Space Force in July 2021.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | "Another One Leaves The Crust" | 20 January 2021 07:26:00 [87] | Mahia, LC-1A | GMS-T [88] | ~50 kg | 1200 km, 90° LEO | OHB | Success | No attempt |
Dedicated mission for OHB, the launch occurred six months after the contract signing with Rocket Lab and OHB. [89] | |||||||||
19 | "They Go Up So Fast" | 22 March 2021 22:30 [90] | Mahia, LC-1A | Unknown | 450 km and 550km, 45° LEO |
| Success [90] | No attempt | |
During this mission, Rocket Lab deployed their 100th satellite to orbit. As well as their second Photon satellite bus named Pathstone. Photon Pathstone will operate on orbit as a risk reduction demonstration to build spacecraft heritage ahead of Rocket Lab's mission to the Moon for NASA later this year, as well as Rocket Lab's private mission to Venus in 2025. [90] | |||||||||
20 | "Running Out Of Toes" | 15 May 2021 11:11 [92] | Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-10, BlackSky-11 | 120 kg | 430 km, 50° LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Industries, Inc. | Failure [93] [94] | Success (Ocean landing) [95] |
Second launch to attempt booster recovery (via ocean landing), using an advanced heat shield based on lessons learned from the first recovered Electron booster. [96] First of four 2021 launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites. [97] Second stage engine shut down early causing the mission to be lost, but Electron's first stage safely completed a successful splashdown under parachute. The investigation revealed that the second stage igniter fault induced an interference with the engine controller that caused the data signal corruption for the thrust vector control (TVC) system, straying the vehicle off course. [98] | |||||||||
21 | "It's A Little Chile Up Here" | 29 July 2021 06:00 [99] | Mahia, LC-1A | Monolith | Unknown | 600 km, 37° LEO | U.S. Space Force | Success | No attempt |
The launch was originally scheduled to fly from LC-2 in Wallops in 2020, but NASA didn't certify the autonomous flight termination system (AFTS) in time. [100] Because of these delays, the launch was moved to LC-1 as the return to flight after the anomaly Electron experienced during the "Running Out Of Toes" mission in May 2021. | |||||||||
22 | "Love At First Insight" | 18 November 2021 01:38:13 [101] [102] | Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-14, BlackSky-15 | 120 kg | 430 km, 42°LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | Success (Ocean landing) [103] |
Second of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021. Mission was named "Love At First Insight". The first stage booster performed a soft ocean splashdown under parachute. For the first time, a helicopter tracked and observed Electron's descent in preparation for future missions which aim to use helicopters to intercept and capture returning launch vehicle boosters mid-air as they return to Earth under parachute. The launch vehicle also flew with an advanced parachute deployed from the first stage at a higher altitude then previous recovery attempts and an improved heat shield. [104] | |||||||||
23 | "A Data With Destiny" | 9 December 2021 00:02 [105] | Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-12 Gen-2, BlackSky-13 Gen-2 | 120 kg | 430 km, 42°LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | No attempt |
Third of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021. [102] This mission set a new turnaround record between Electron launches at just 20 days. | |||||||||
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | "The Owl's Night Continues" | 28 February 2022 20:37 [106] | Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-β | ~150 kg | 561 km, 97° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Inaugural launch from Launch Complex 1 Pad B. Second of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | |||||||||
25 | "Without Mission A Beat" | 2 April 2022 12:41 [107] | Mahia, LC-1A | BlackSky-14 Gen-2, BlackSky-15 Gen-2 | ~120 kg | 430 km, 53° LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | No attempt |
Last of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021 and 2022. | |||||||||
26 | "There And Back Again" | 2 May 2022 22:49 [108] | Mahia, LC-1A |
| Unknown | 520 km, 94° SSO |
| Success | Partial failure (aerial capture) |
Deployed 34 satellites for six customers. First mid-air helicopter capture attempt of an Electron first stage following launch. Electron was initially captured by the helicopter, but the pilot detected different load characteristics than previously experienced in testing and offloaded the stage for a splashdown, where it was recovered by Rocket Lab's contracted offshore vessel, Seaworker as in previous ocean landings. [108] | |||||||||
27 | "CAPSTONE" | 28 June 2022 09:55 [109] | Mahia, LC-1B | 80 kg | TLI to NRHO | Success | No attempt | ||
Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) is a CubeSat mission that will serve as a precursor for the planned Gateway. It used Photon to place CAPSTONE on a trajectory to the Moon. CAPSTONE will move into a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) after separation from Photon. [110] Due to the heavy nature of the payload, the first stage was stripped down to its bare frame with no recovery hardware and no cameras. The recovery hardware itself takes about 10-15% of the payload mass capabilities of a given launch. [111] | |||||||||
28 | "Wise One Looks Ahead". | 13 July 2022 06:30 [112] | Mahia, LC-1A | NROL-162 (RASR-3) [113] | Classified | 620 km, 40° LEO | NRO | Success | No attempt |
First of two "Responsive Space Missions" NRO launches. Back to back launches between Pad A and B. [113] | |||||||||
29 | "Antipodean Adventure" | 4 August 2022 05:00 [114] | Mahia, LC-1B | NROL-199 (RASR-4) | Classified | 620 km, 70°LEO | NRO | Success | No attempt |
Second of two "Responsive Space Missions" NRO launches. Back to back launches between Pad A and B. [113] | |||||||||
30 | "The Owl Spreads Its Wings" | 15 September 2022 20:38 [115] | Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-1 | ~100 kg | 563 km, 97°SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Third of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] StriX-1 is the 150th satellite deployed by Rocket Lab. [116] | |||||||||
31 | "It Argos Up From Here" | 7 October 2022 17:09 [117] | Mahia, LC-1B | GAzelle (Argos-4) [118] | 118 kg | 750 km 98° SSO | NOAA / CNES | Success | No attempt |
First launch for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. The GAzelle satellite carries the Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection System hosted payload. [119] | |||||||||
32 | "Catch Me If You Can" | 4 November 2022 17:27 [120] | Mahia, LC-1B | MATS | 50 kg | 585 km, 97.66° SSO | SNSA & OHB Sweden | Success | Partial failure (aerial capture) |
Launch of MATS atmospheric research satellite for the Swedish National Space Agency. Second attempt at mid-air helicopter recovery of first stage, however due to telemetry loss from the first stage during its descent, it was not safe for the helicopter to loiter in the capture zone, so it backed off. Stage made a soft ocean landing and was recovered by Rocket Lab's contracted offshore vessel, Seaworker as in previous ocean landings. [121] |
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | "Virginia Is For Launch Lovers" | 24 January 2023 23:00 [122] | MARS, LC-2 | HawkEye 360 Cluster 6 (3 satellites) [123] | 40 kg | 550 km, 40.5° LEO | HawkEye 360 | Success | No attempt |
First launch from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops. Launch of the first 3 of the 15 satellites contracted with HawkEye 360. [124] | |||||||||
34 | "Stronger Together" | 16 March 2023 22:39 [125] | MARS, LC-2 | Capella 9, Capella 10 | 224 kg | 600 km, 44° LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt |
Dedicated launch for Capella Space. | |||||||||
35 | "The Beat Goes On" | 24 March 2023 09:14 [126] | Mahia, LC-1B | BlackSky-18 Gen-2, BlackSky 19 Gen-2 | ~120 kg | 450 km, 42° LEO | BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. | Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
Dedicated launch for BlackSky. | |||||||||
36 | "Rocket Like A Hurricane" | 8 May 2023 01:00 [127] | Mahia, LC-1B | TROPICS × 2 | 10 kg | 550 km, 32° LEO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
First of two TROPICS missions awarded to Rocket Lab after a prior mission awarded to competing launch provider Astra failed to orbit. [128] The TROPICS mission consists of four (formerly six) CubeSats intended for two (formerly three) low-Earth orbital planes at an inclination of 30 degrees. Due to the light weight of the payload and the target orbit, the second stage completed the orbital insertion while the kick stage was used to perform a plane change burn to the target inclination. | |||||||||
37 | "Coming to a Storm Near You" | 26 May 2023 03:46 [129] | Mahia, LC-1B | TROPICS × 2 | 10 kg | 550 km, 32° LEO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
Second of two TROPICS missions awarded to Rocket Lab after a prior mission awarded to competing launch provider Astra failed to orbit. [128] | |||||||||
39 | "Baby Come Back" | 18 July 2023 01:27 [130] | Mahia, LC-1B |
| ~86 kg [131] | 1000 km, 99.45° SSO | Success | Success (Ocean landing) | |
The LEO 3 demonstration satellite will provide continuity for customer and ecosystem vendor testing campaigns following the decommissioning of Telesat's Phase 1 LEO satellite. This mission tested out new reusability technologies, including improved water sealing, a lighter parachute, and new hardware on the recovery vessel. [132] | |||||||||
40 | "We Love The Nightlife" | 23 August 2023 23:45 [133] | Mahia, LC-1B | Acadia 1 | ~165 kg | 640 km, 53° LEO | Capella Space | Success | Success (Ocean landing) [134] |
First of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. For the first time on this mission, Rocket Lab is reusing a Rutherford engine from another mission launched in May 2022 "There And Back Again". [135] | |||||||||
41 | "We Will Never Desert You" | 19 September 2023 06:55 [136] | Mahia, LC-1B | Acadia 2 [137] | ~165 kg | 640 km, 53° LEO | Capella Space | Failure | No attempt |
Second of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. [135] An anomaly occurred after stage separation, which resulted in a failure to orbit. Due to a sharp change of voltage from 420V to 508V due to an arc leading to a short in the power system that is used for motor controls caused in the near vacuum of space as a result of phenomenon of Paschen's law in T+151 to T+152.66 seconds. [138] | |||||||||
42 | "The Moon God Awakens" | 15 December 2023 04:05 [139] | Mahia, LC-1B | QPS-SAR-5 (TSUKUYOMI-I) | ~100 kg | 575 km, 42° LEO | iQPS | Success | No attempt |
The satellite was previously manifested as a LauncherOne payload. After Virgin Orbit's bankruptcy and shutdown, the payload was transferred to Electron. [140] This mission was Electron's return to launch after a failure due to a second stage issue occurring in the previous mission ("We Will Never Desert You") on September 19. [141] |
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43 | "Four Of A Kind" | 31 January 2024 06:34 [142] | Mahia, LC-1B | Skylark × 4 | ~112 kg [143] | 530 km, 97° LEO | Spire Global and NorthStar Earth & Space | Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
Dedicated launch for Spire Global. | |||||||||
44 | "On Closer Inspection" | 18 February 2024 14:52 [144] | Mahia, LC-1B | ADRAS-J | 150 kg | 600 km, 98° SSO | Astroscale | Success | No attempt |
The Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite will rendezvous with a spent Japanese H-2A upper stage launch vehicle body in low Earth orbit and demonstrate proximity operations in preparation for a future de-orbiting mission. Due to the special mission requirements, Electron had a near instantaneous launch window. [145] | |||||||||
45 | "Owl Night Long" | 12 March 2024 15:03 [146] | Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-3 | 100 kg | 561 km, 97° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Fourth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | |||||||||
46 | "Live and Let Fly" | 21 March 2024 07:25 [147] | MARS, LC-2 | NROL-123 (4 Payloads) [148] | Classified | LEO | National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) | Success | No attempt |
The NROL-123 mission, was Rocket Lab’s first launch for the NRO from the United States after previously launching four NRO missions from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. | |||||||||
47 | "Beginning Of The Swarm" | 23 April 2024 22:32 [149] | Mahia, LC-1B |
| ~115 kg | 520 km Neonsat-1, 1.000km ACS3, 97° SSO | Success | No attempt | |
Rideshare mission including NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3). | |||||||||
48 | "Ready, Aim, PREFIRE" | 25 May 2024 07:41 [150] | Mahia, LC-1B | PREFIRE 1 | ~15 kg | 525 km 97.5° SSO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
First of two launches for NASA's PREFIRE mission. | |||||||||
49 | "PREFIRE And Ice" | 5 June 2024 03:15 [151] | Mahia, LC-1B | PREFIRE 2 | ~15 kg | 525 km 97.5° SSO | NASA | Success | No attempt |
Second of two launches for NASA's PREFIRE mission. | |||||||||
50 | "No Time Toulouse" | 20 June 2024 18:13 [152] | Mahia, LC-1B | Kinéis × 5 | 150 kg | 635 km 98° SSO | Kinéis | Success | No attempt |
First of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. Electron 50th mission. | |||||||||
51 | "Owl For One, One For Owl" | 2 August 2024 16:39 [153] | Mahia, LC-1B | StriX-2 | 100 kg | 543 km, 43° LEO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Fifth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [153] | |||||||||
52 | "A Sky Full Of SARs" | 11 August 2024 13:18 [154] | Mahia, LC-1B | Acadia 3 | 165 kg | 615 km, 53° LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt |
Third of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. |
Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Planned destination | Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 [86] | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | SSO | Synspective |
Sixth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2024 [155] | Mahia, LC-1 | Acadia × 1 | LEO | Capella Space |
Fourth of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. Includes an option to move any of the missions to MARS LC-2. [135] | ||||
2024 [156] | Mahia, LC-1 | Hawk × 6 | LEO | HawkEye 360 |
First of two dedicated launches for HawkEye 360. | ||||
2024 [157] | Unknown | Hawk × 6 | LEO | HawkEye 360 |
Second of two dedicated launches for HawkEye 360. | ||||
NET 2024 [158] [159] | Mahia, LC-1 | Kinéis × 5 | LEO | Kinéis |
Second of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. [160] | ||||
NET 2024 [161] [159] | Mahia, LC-1 | Kinéis × 5 | LEO | Kinéis |
Third of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. [160] | ||||
NET 2024 [161] [159] | Mahia, LC-1 | Kinéis × 5 | LEO | Kinéis |
Fourth of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. [160] | ||||
NET 2024 [161] [159] | Mahia, LC-1 | Kinéis × 5 | LEO | Kinéis |
Fifth of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. [160] | ||||
NET 2024 [162] | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
First of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2024 [162] | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Second of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2024 [162] | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Third of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2024 [162] | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Fourth of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. | ||||
NET 2024 [162] | Mahia, LC-1 | BlackSky Gen-3 × ? | LEO | BlackSky |
Fifth of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites. |
Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Planned destination | Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 2025 [163] | Mahia, LC-1 | LOXSAT1 | SSO | Eta Space |
Cryogenic fluid management technology demonstration for a future propellant depot. | ||||
NET 2025 [164] | Mahia, LC-1 | Venus Life Finder [165] | Heliocentric | Rocket Lab |
Private Venus exploration mission, using an atmospheric-entry probe developed jointly with MIT. A Photon relay satellite will perform a flyby of Venus in order to relay the data from the atmospheric-entry probe. | ||||
NET 2025 [166] | MARS, LC-2 | DISKSat | VLEO | U.S. Space Force |
The mission, called Space Test Program-30 (STP-S30), is a launch scheduled to take place within 24 hours from contract award [166] to demonstrate Rocket Lab's responsive space program. | ||||
NLT fall 2025 [167] | LC-1 or LC-2 | Pioneer derived satellite | LEO | U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command |
Mission for SSC. Rocket Lab will build and launch a satellite for TacRS (Tactically Responsive Space). Once on orbit, the spacecraft will conduct a variety of dynamic space operations to demonstrate SDA characterization capabilities with True Anomaly’s spacecraft, the Jackal autonomous orbital vehicle. [168] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
Seventh of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation, and the first of a renewed contract of 10 additional dedicated launches signed in June 2024. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
Eighth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
Ninth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
10th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
11th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
12th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
13th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
14th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
15th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] | ||||
2025–2027 | Mahia, LC-1 | StriX | LEO | Synspective |
16th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation. [86] |
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Apogee | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38 [169] | "Scout's Arrow" | 18 June 2023 01:24 [170] | MARS, LC-2 | DYNAMO-A | Classified | Unknown | Dynetics | Success | No attempt |
Part of Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program. [170] |
Per the Q3 2023 investor presentation, there are currently 2 HASTE launches planned for 2024, one in Q3 and one in Q4.
Date/time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Apogee | Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
NET 2024 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
First of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. [171] | ||||
NET 2024 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
Second of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. | ||||
NET 2024 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Confidential |
The launch deal was signed with a confidential customer just days after the first HASTE launch took place. [172] | ||||
NET April 2025 [173] | MARS, LC-2 | DART AE | Unknown | DIU |
This mission will deploy a payload from Hypersonix called DART AE, DART AE is a scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle capable of speeds up to Mach 7. This mission will also demonstrate HASTE's direct inject capabilities. Direct inject means that the payload will be deployed while the rocket is still ascending. [174] | ||||
NET 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
Third of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. | ||||
NET 2025 | MARS, LC-2 | Unknown | Unknown | Leidos |
Fourth of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project. |
Launch Pad 0 (LP-0), also known as Launch Complex 0 (LC-0), or Launch Area 0 (LA-0), is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, in the United States. MARS is located right next to the NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), which had run the launch complex until 2003. WFF still provides support services to MARS launches under a contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. is a publicly traded aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider that operates and launches lightweight Electron orbital rockets used to provide dedicated launch services for small satellites as well as a suborbital variant of Electron called HASTE. The company plans to build a larger Neutron rocket as early as 2025. Electron rockets have launched to orbit 49 times from either Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand or at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops Island, Virginia, United States. Rocket Lab has launched one sub-orbital HASTE rocket to date from Wallops Island, Virginia. In addition to the Electron, Neutron, and HASTE launch vehicles, Rocket Lab manufactures and operates spacecraft and is a supplier of satellite components including star trackers, reaction wheels, solar cells and arrays, satellite radios, separation systems, as well as flight and ground software.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2019.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2018. For the first time since 1990, more than 100 orbital launches were performed globally.
Planet Labs PBC is a publicly trading American Earth imaging company based in San Francisco, California. Their goal is to image the entirety of the Earth daily to monitor changes and pinpoint trends.
Electron is a two-stage, partially reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by Rocket Lab, an American aerospace company with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. Electron services the commercial small satellite launch market. It's the third most launched small-lift launch vehicle in history. Its Rutherford engines are the first electric-pump-fed engine to power an orbital-class rocket. Electron is often flown with a kickstage or Rocket Lab's Photon spacecraft. Although the rocket was designed to be expendable, Rocket Lab has recovered the first stage twice and is working towards the capability of reusing the booster. The Flight 26 (F26) booster has featured the first helicopter catch recovery attempt. Rocket Lab has, however, abandoned the idea of catching Electron.
Firefly Alpha is a two-stage orbital expendable small lift launch vehicle developed by the American company Firefly Aerospace to compete in the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and rideshare customers.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2020.
Capella Space is an American space company with satellite and declassified SAR data solutions for government and commercial use. It offers space-based radar Earth observation satellites equipped with synthetic-aperture radar that can collect imagery through clouds and at night. The company is based in San Francisco, California with offices in Washington, D.C., and Louisville, Colorado. It was founded by Payam Banazadeh, a former engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA, and William Walter Woods.
This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the 2020s.
This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2026.
Spaceflight in 2025 promises to follow the 2020s trend of record breaking orbital launches and increased developments in lunar, Mars and low-earth orbit exploration.
Photon is a satellite bus based on Rocket Lab's kick stage.
Electron's first stage safely completed a successful splashdown under parachute and Rocket Lab's recovery team is working to retrieve the stage from the ocean as planned.
The Electron lifted off from the company's Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula at 9:27 p.m. Eastern.
Payload mass: Approximately 86 kg
Alongside its results, Rocket Lab announced a contract for four Electron launches from satellite company Capella Space. Those missions are scheduled to begin in the second half of the year.