There and Back Again (Rideshare)

Mission

There and Back Again (Rideshare)

• Type: Dedicated Rideshare
• Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
• Launch Cost: $6,000,000

Commercial rideshare mission including payloads for Alba Orbital, Astrix Astronautics, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, E-Space, Spaceflight Inc, Swarm Technologies and UNSEENLABS.

Location

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A has witnessed the launch of 30 rockets, including 30 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.

Learn more about the Electron

Core 26

Rocket lab successfully caught the Electron first stage, however due to different load characteristics than were experienced during testing the pilot dropped the stage at his discretion to complete a successful splashdown. Booster 26 last launched 05/02/2022 and has seen 0 successful launches and landings. First stage used for Electron's 26th flight (There and Back Again).

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

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.