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The Lightning God Reigns (iQPS Launch 1)

Electron

Rocket Lab

Launch Status
Success

Rocket Launch Video

Weather Forecast During Launch

The forecast calls for a temperature of 67°F, clear skies, 0% cloud cover and a wind speed of 3mph.

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.

View the launch timeline

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 : 56 Supersonic
Vehicle is supersonic
T+ 00 : 01 : 07 Max-Q
Maximum dynamic pressure
T+ 00 : 02 : 33 MECO
Cut-off of the main engine
T+ 00 : 02 : 36 Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
T+ 00 : 02 : 40 SES
Start of the second engine
T+ 00 : 03 : 25 Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
T+ 00 : 06 : 31 Battery Hotswap
Electron Second stages switches to a new set of batteries and jettisons the depleted ones.
T+ 00 : 09 : 06 SECO
Cut-off of the second engine
T+ 00 : 09 : 10 Kick Stage Separation
Separation of the kick stage from the previous stage
T+ 00 : 51 : 20 Kick Stage Ignition
Start of the kick stage engine
T+ 00 : 54 : 48 Kick Stage Cut-off
Cut-off of the kick stage engine
T+ 00 : 55 : 39 Payload Separation
Final deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

The Lightning God Reigns (iQPS Launch 1)

  • Type: Earth Science
  • Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
  • Launch Cost: $6,000,000

Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.

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 27 rockets, including 27 orbital launch attempts. While Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, has been the site for 56 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.

Learn more about the Electron

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.

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Ken & Judy O
Ken & Judy O' Neill
9 days ago

ALL THE BEST TO ROCK LAB,.