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Catch Me If You Can

Electron

Rocket Lab Ltd

Launch Status
Success

Mission

Catch Me If You Can

Type: Earth Science
Launch Cost: $6,000,000

The payload is a science research satellite by space systems provider OHB Sweden for the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA). The Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy (MATS) satellite is the basis for the SNSA’s science mission to investigate atmospheric waves and better understand how the upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere interacts with wind and weather patterns closer to the ground. MATS was originally due to fly on a Russian launch service before the mission was manifested on Rocket Lab’s Electron.

Trajectory

The trajectory is unavailable. Check back for updates.

Mission patch for Catch Me If You Can

Location

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B

Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

33 rockets have launched from Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket

Electron – Rocket Lab Ltd

  • Family: Electron
  • Length: 18 m
  • Diameter: 1.2 m
  • Launch Mass: 13 T
  • Low Earth Orbit Capacity: 300 kg

The Electron was manufactured by Rocket Lab Ltd with the first launch on 2017-05-25. Electron has 32 successful launches and 3 failed launches with a total of 35 launches. Electron is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle (with an optional third stage) developed by the American aerospace company Rocket Lab. Electron is a small-lift launch vehicle designed to launch small satellites and cubesats to sun-synchronous orbit and low earth orbit. The Electron is the first orbital class rocket to use electric-pump-fed engines, powered by the 9 Rutherford engines on the first stage.

Core Landing

Helicopter capture of the Electron first stage was not achieved.

South Pacific – PAC

Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

Helicopter Catch – HC

The first stage is caught by a helicopter while slowly descending towards the sea under a parachute.

Agency

Rocket Lab Ltd – RL

  • Type: Commercial
  • Abbreviation: RL
  • Administration: CEO: Peter Beck
  • Founded: 2006
  • Launchers: Electron
  • Country: USA

Rocket Lab is an American aerospace manufacturer with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. The company develops lightweight, cost-effective commercial rocket launch services. The Electron Program was founded on the premise that small payloads such as CubeSats require dedicated small launch vehicles and flexibility not currently offered by traditional rocket systems. Its rocket, the Electron, is a light-weight rocket and is now operating commercially. Electron currently launches from only Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand however a second launch complex in the US is under development.

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