There and Back Again

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 32 successful launches and 3 failed launches with a total of 35 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

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.

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 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.