NZSA Venus Mission
Electron
Rocket Lab
Trajectory
Trajectory is not available. Check back for updates.
Mission
NZSA Venus Mission
- Type: Planetary Science
- Orbit: Heliocentric N/A
- Launch Cost: $6,000,000
NZSA Venus Mission is a small direct Venus entry probe with a single 1 kg low-mass, low-cost autofluorescing nephelometer riding on a satellite bus based on the Photon Upper stage of the Electron rocket.
The probe mission will spend approximately 5 minutes in the Venus cloud layers, 48-60 km above the surface, collecting in situ measurements to search for organic molecules in cloud particles and constrain particle composition.
Location
Unknown Pad
Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Unknown Pad has witnessed the launch of 0 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts, while Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, has been the site for 43 rocket launches.
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.
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.
