Four Of A Kind (NorthStar 1)
Electron
Rocket Lab
Rocket Launch Video
Rocket Launch Timeline
Enhance your rocket launch experience with a detailed timeline! From pre-launch preparations to post-launch milestones, a well-structured schedule ensures every step—payload prep, safety checks, and liftoff—runs smoothly. Stay informed and follow the action with precision.
| T- 00 : 02 : 00 | Startup The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks |
| T- 00 : 00 : 02 | Ignition Start of the engine ignition sequence |
| T+ 00 : 00 : 00 | Liftoff First upwards movement of the rocket |
| T+ 00 : 00 : 55 | Supersonic Vehicle is supersonic |
| T+ 00 : 01 : 07 | Max-Q Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 25 | MECO Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 28 | Stage 2 Separation Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 31 | SES Start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 03 : 07 | Fairing Separation Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+ 00 : 04 : 26 | Stage 1 Apogee Highest altitude of the first stage's flight |
| T+ 00 : 07 : 08 | Stage 1 Drogue Deployment of the first stage's drogue parachute |
| T+ 00 : 07 : 25 | Stage 1 Subsonic The first stage has slowed down to subsonic speeds |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 00 | Stage 1 Parachute Deployment of the first stage's main parachute |
| T+ 00 : 09 : 20 | SECO Cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 09 : 24 | Kick Stage Separation Separation of the kick stage from the previous stage |
| T+ 00 : 18 : 04 | Stage 1 Splashdown Splashdown of the first stage |
| T+ 00 : 48 : 23 | Kick Stage Ignition Start of the kick stage engine |
| T+ 00 : 50 : 27 | Kick Stage Cut-off Cut-off of the kick stage engine |
| T+ 01 : 17 : 00 | Payload Separation Final deployment of the payload from the rocket |
Mission
Four Of A Kind (NorthStar 1)
- Type: Space Situational Awareness
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $6,000,000
Four space situational awareness (SSA) satellites for Canadian company NorthStar Earth and Space.
Location
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B has witnessed the launch of 29 rockets, including 29 orbital launch attempts. While Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, has been the site for 59 rocket launches.
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 is a commercial spaceport located close to Ahuriri Point at the southern tip of Māhia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is owned and operated by private spaceflight company Rocket Lab and supports launches of the company's Electron rocket for small satellites. With the launch of Electron on 25 May 2017, it became the first private spaceport to host an orbital launch attempt, and the first site in New Zealand to host an orbital launch attempt. With the Electron launch of 21 January 2018, it became the first private spaceport to host a successful orbital launch.
Rocket
Rocket Lab Electron
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. It is also used as a suborbital testbed (called HASTE) for hypersonics research.
Landing
Core 43
The Electron booster was successfully recovered after a soft parachute splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Booster 43 last launched 01/31/2024 and has seen 1 successful launches and landings. Booster used for the "Four Of A Kind" mission.
Pacific Ocean - PAC
Pacific Ocean
Parachute Landing - PCL
Unpowered landing using parachute(s).
Agency
Rocket Lab
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. The company is also producing a variety of spacecrafts and spacecrafts components.
