Love At First Insight

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 31 successful launches and 3 failed launches with a total of 34 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

Electron’s first stage splashed down in the pacific ocean following main chute deployment.

South Pacific – PAC

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

Parachute Landing – PL

Unpowered landing using parachute(s).

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.