List of Electron launches
Electron is a two-stage small-lift launch vehicle built and operated by Rocket Lab. The rocket has flown 18 times with 16 successes and 2 failures.
The first flight, known as "It's a Test", launched on 25 May 2017. The mission failed due to a glitch in communication equipment on the ground. Successful follow-on missions, including "Still Testing", "It's Business Time" and "This One's For Pickering", delivered multiple small payloads to low Earth orbit. The 13th mission, "Pics Or It Didn't Happen", failed during flight.[1] Rocket Lab subsequently returned to flight, launching the 14th mission two months later.[2]
Launch statistics
Launch outcomes1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
|
Launch sites1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
|
Booster tests and recoveries1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
|
Rocket configurations1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
|
Past launches
2017–2018
Electron experienced its first successful launch in January 2018, and launched their first mission for NASA in December 2018.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "It's a Test" | 25 May 2017, 04:20 [3] | Mahia, LC-1A | None | None | 500 km, 85° LEO | Rocket Lab (flight test) | Failure | No attempt |
The rocket successfully launched and performed first stage separation and fairing separation. After reaching an altitude of about 224 kilometres (139 mi) (planned 500 kilometres (310 mi) at 85° inclination),[4] the telemetry feed to the range safety officer was lost and the rocket was destroyed by range safety officer.[5][6] Post-flight analysis determined the issue to be a simple ground software failure rather than a problem with the rocket.[7] The ground software issue was found to be a contractor's failure to enable forward error correction on their hardware leading to data corruption.[7][8] Rocket Lab made no changes to the Electron vehicle and instead implemented adjustment to producers to prevent similar problems.[7] | |||||||||
2 | "Still Testing" | 21 January 2018, 01:43 [9] | Mahia, LC-1A | 13 kg (29 lb) [11] | LEO | Success | No attempt | ||
Carrying CubeSats for Planet Labs and Spire Global.[12] The two Lemur-2 satellites were put into a circularized orbit by the new "Electron kick stage" which was not announced until after the launch.[13] Between December 2017 and January 2018 the launch was delayed six times due to weather, orbital traffic, rocket, and range safety issues.[14][15][16][17] Put Lemur-2 payloads into 500 km (310 mi) high orbit at 85.0° inclination while the Dove Pioneer satellite was put into a 289 km (180 mi) x 533 km (331 mi).[4][18] | |||||||||
3 | "It's Business Time"[19] | 11 November 2018, 03:50 | Mahia, LC-1A[19][20] | Approx 45 kilograms (99 lb)[11] | 500 km, 85° LEO |
|
Success | No attempt | |
The 11 November 2018 launch was successful; all cubesats planned to be deployed were deployed in orbit. The launch, originally planned for April 2018, had been delayed several times: to June/July after unusual behavior was identified in a motor controller during a wet dress rehearsal,[19][22] by a few days after a ground tracking antenna issue in the Chatham Island tracking station[24] and indefinitely after another motor controller issue.[25][26] In October 2018, a nine-day launch window was announced starting 11 November 2018.[27] | |||||||||
4 | "This One's For Pickering"[28] | 16 December 2018, 06:33[29] | Mahia, LC-1A | 78 kg (172 lb)[30] | 500 km, 85° LEO | NASA[31] | Success | No attempt | |
Multiple CubeSats for the NASA-sponsored ELaNa-19 mission.[31] They were deployed from RailPOD dispensers. Was the first NASA mission for Rocket Lab.[32] |
2019
First launch for the U.S. Air Force in May.
Flight No. | Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | "Two Thumbs Up"[33] | 28 March 2019, 23:27[34] | Mahia, LC-1A | R3D2[35] | 150 kg (330 lb)[36] | 425 km, 39.5° LEO | DARPA | Success | No attempt |
Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration (R3D2) will qualify a new type of membrane reflectarray antenna.[37] Northrop Grumman serves as the prime contractor for R3D2. Blue Canyon Technologies provided the satellite bus, MMA Design provided the antenna.[38] | |||||||||
6 | "That's a Funny Looking Cactus"[39] | 5 May 2019, 06:00[40] | Mahia, LC-1A | 180 kilograms (400 lb)[40] | 500 km, 40° LEO | U.S. Air Force | Success | No attempt | |
Launch is part of the "Rapid Agile Launch Initiative" (RALI) for the U.S. Air Force.[41] Was first night launch of an Electron and its heaviest payload so far.[42] | |||||||||
7 | "Make it Rain" | 29 June 2019, 04:30[43] | Mahia, LC-1A |
|
80 kilograms (180 lb)[47] | LEO |
|
Success | No attempt |
BlackSky Global 3 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites.[45][46] SpaceBEE cubesats are manufactured by Swarm Technologies to test two-way satellite communication and data relay. SpaceBEE 8 weighs 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) while SpaceBEE 9 weighs 0.7 kg (1.54 lb).[48][49] | |||||||||
8 | "Look Ma, No Hands" | 19 August 2019, 12:12[50] | Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Approx. 80 kilograms (180 lb)[11] | LEO |
|
Success | No attempt |
Breizh Recon Orbiter (BRO-1) is part of a constellation used for tracking maritime vessels. BlackSky Global 4 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites. The two experimental satellites for Air Force Space Command are part of the "Pearl White" technology demonstration program.[51][52] | |||||||||
9 | "As the Crow Flies" | 17 October 2019, 01:22[53] | Mahia, LC-1A | Palisade[54]
|
Approx. 20 kilograms (44 lb)[11] | 1200 km, LEO | Astro Digital[55] | Success | No attempt |
Palisade is a 16U CubeSat technology demonstrator satellite.[56] An upgraded, bi-propellant kick stage lifted the satellite to a 1200 km circular orbit, and then deorbited itself.[57] | |||||||||
10 | "Running Out Of Fingers" | 6 December 2019, 08:18 [58][59] | Mahia, LC-1A | [59] | Approx. 77 kilograms (170 lb)[11] | 385 x 400 km, LEO | Success | Controlled (atmosphere test) | |
ATL-1 will test new thermal insulation in space. FossaSat-1 is a communications satellite that uses low-power radio frequencies to provide Internet of things connectivity. NOOR-1A and NOOR-1B will demonstrate intersatellite link technology. SMOG-P will use a spectrum analyzer to measure electromagnetic pollution. TRSI Sat will provide flight tracking services. ALE-2 will create artificial shooting star displays.[59] The six satellites other than ALE-2 are PocketQubes, forming Alba Cluster 2 of Alba Orbital.
This mission also was the first guided, full telemetry re-entry of the Electron launch vehicle's first stage as part of Rocket Lab's plans to re-use and re-fly rocket boosters in future missions. Recovery instrumentation on-board this flight included guidance and navigation hardware, including S-band telemetry and on-board flight computer systems, to live-gather data during the first stage's atmospheric re-entry, as well as a reaction control system to orient the booster.[60][61] After the launch Rocket Lab said that the reusability tests were successful.[62] First flight of Electron with an fully autonomous flight termination system on the rocket.[63] |
2020
First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office in January 2020.
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | "Birds of a Feather" | 31 January 2020, 02:56[64] | Mahia, LC-1A | NROL-151 | Classified | 590 km x 610 km, 70.9° LEO | National Reconnaissance Office | Success | Controlled (atmosphere test) |
First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO competitively awarded the contract under the Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) contract vehicle. RASR allows the NRO to explore new launch opportunities that can provide a streamlined, commercial approach for getting small satellites into space. For the second time, the Electron booster survived atmospheric re-entry. Rocket Lab again said their reusability test were successful.[64] | |||||||||
12 | "Don't Stop Me Now" | 13 June 2020, 05:12:12[65] |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Classified | LEO | NRO, Boston University / NASA and University of New South Wales Canberra Space and the Royal Australian Air Force.[66] | Success | No attempt[67] |
Part of the ELaNa 32 mission, ANDESITE is a satellite designed to study Earth's magnetic field. The M2 Pathfinder satellite will be a technology demonstration satellite to test communications. The flight will also carry three payloads for the NRO.[68][69] Rocket Lab does not plan to do any recovery testing.[69] Flight delayed due to COVID-19.[68] A launch attempt on 11 June 2020 was canceled due to bad weather.[70] ANDESITE consists of ANDESITE Mule, a 6U parent spacecraft, and ANDESITE Node 1 to Node 8, small magnetometer subsatellites to be ejected from it to study magnetospheric variation. Each Node is 0.20 x 0.10 x 0.025 m in size with a mass of 0.38 kg.[66] | |||||||||
13 | "Pics or it didn't happen" | 4 July 2020 21:19:36 |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
Approx. 75 kg (165 lb) | LEO |
|
Failure | No attempt[71] |
Flight No. 13's name was "Pics Or It Didn't Happen".[72] The 5 SuperDoves were part of Planet's Flock 4e.[73] Flight failed during 2nd stage burn.[1][74] The issue was found to be a single faulty electrical connection that was not caught during preflight testing. The wiring was intermittently secure leading to increasing resistance causing heating and thermal expansion. This caused softening of potting compounds around the connection leading to a disconnect. The disconnect lead to power being cut from the electric turbopumps needed for the Rutherford engine leading the engine to be shut down.[75] No changes were made to the vehicle but changes were made to "work instructions and quality signoffs".[76] | |||||||||
14 | "I Can't Believe It's Not Optical" | 31 August 2020 03:05:47 [77] |
Mahia, LC-1A | 100 kg | LEO | Capella Space | Success | No attempt [78] | |
Return to flight of Electron after the 4 July 2020 launch failure.[79][80] Launch of a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite, for global imagery.[81] Also launched the Photon satellite bus.[82] | |||||||||
15 | "In Focus" [83] | 28 October 2020 21:21:27 [84] |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
LEO | Success | No attempt[85] | ||
After satellite deployed kick stage changed orbital inclination.[86] | |||||||||
16 | "Return To Sender" [87] | 20 November 2020 02:20:01 [88] |
Mahia, LC-1A |
|
200 kg | LEO |
|
Success | Success (Ocean landing) |
First Electron to attempt a soft ocean landing by parachute with the booster and recovery by vessel.[89] | |||||||||
17 | "The Owl's Night Begins" [90] | 15 December 2020 10:09:27 [91] |
Mahia, LC-1A | StriX-α | 150 kg | 500 km, 97.3° SSO | Synspective | Success | No attempt |
Test satellite weighing 150 kg (330 lb) using synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) from a Japanese company. Part of a future constellation of 25 satellites to provide global coverage. Satellite was encompassed in an expanded fairing.[92] |
2021
First launch from Wallops, LC-2 in 2021.
Flight
No. |
Name | Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Payload Mass | Destination | Customer(s) | Launch outcome | Booster recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | "Another One Leaves The Crust" | 20 January 2021 07:26:00 [93] |
Mahia, LC-1A | GMS-T [94] | ~50 kg | LEO | OHB | Success | No attempt |
Dedicated mission for OHB, the launch occurred six months after the contract signing with Rocket Lab and OHB.[95] |
Upcoming launches
In July 2019, Rocket Lab expected to have launches every two weeks in 2020.[96] In June 2020, with a new Electron launch vehicle built every 18 days, Rocket Lab remains on target to deliver monthly launches for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021, including the company's first launch from Wallops LC-2 for the U.S. Space Force in January 2021 and a mission to the Moon for NASA aboard Electron and Rocket Lab's spacecraft bus platform Photon in 2021.[97] Next flight is expected to launch in 2021.
2021
Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Planned destination |
Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 2021 | Wallops, LC-2 | Monolith (STP-27RM) | LEO | U.S. Space Force, previously U.S. Air Force |
First launch of Electron rocket from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, from the US East Coast.[98] | ||||
February 2021[99][100] | Wallops, LC-2 | CAPSTONE | Selenocentric (NRHO) | NASA |
Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) is a CubeSat mission that will serve as a precursor for the planned Gateway. Will use Photon to place CAPSTONE on a trajectory to the Moon. | ||||
Q2 2021[101] | Mahia, LC-1A | RASR-3 | LEO | NRO |
Back to back launches between Pad A and B.[102] | ||||
Q2 2021[101] | Mahia, LC-1B | RASR-4 | LEO | NRO |
Back to back launches between Pad A and B. | First Launch From LC-1B[102] | ||||
2021[103] | Mahia, LC-1 |
|
Circle Aerospace | |
2021[104] | Mahia, LC-1 |
|
LEO | Canon Electronics |
With Spaceflight,[105] launching the Canon Electronics Satellite I (CE-SAT) Mark II, the first mass-production model of CE-SAT I, an Earth-observing satellite.[106] The CE-Sat II has two cameras on the satellite which has different resolutions, also for Earth observation.[105][107] | ||||
2021[104][108] | Mahia, LC-1 | MCNAIR | LEO | Akash Systems Inc. |
MCNAIR will be launched into a 500 km high sun-synchronous orbit with a 97.8° inclination. The MCNAIR mission has the purpose of testing the "GaN-on-Diamond transmitter".[108] | ||||
2021[103] | Mahia, LC-1 | Flock-x × 20–25[109] | LEO | Planet Labs |
A constellation of satellites for Earth observation. 20 to 25 microsatellites will be released during the launch.[110] |
2022
Date/time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Planned destination |
Customer |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022[111] | Mahia, LC-1 | Archinaut One | LEO | Made In Space, Inc. |
Archinaut is an in-space robotic precision manufacturing and assembly system, enabling in-space production and assembly of the backbone structures for large telescopes, repair, augmentation, or repurposing of existing spacecraft, and robotic assembly of new space stations. |
Related articles
References
- ^ a b Foust, Jeff (4 July 2020). "Rocket Lab Electron launch fails". SpaceNews. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Successfully Deploys Satellite for Capella Space on 14th Mission". 31 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (25 May 2017). "Maiden flight of Rocket Lab's small satellite launcher reaches space". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ a b Rocket Lab [@RocketLab] (8 May 2019). "Last week's STP-27RD mission was our 6th Electron launch! We've now deployed 28 satellites to orbit for innovative organizations including NASA, Planet Labs, DARPA, Spire Global, the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program, and many more. We can't wait to share what's next on our 2019 manifest!" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 May 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Completes Post-Flight Analysis". Rocket Lab. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (7 August 2017). "Telemetry glitch kept first Electron rocket from reaching orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "Rocket Lab Completes Post-Flight Analysis for Electron 'Its a Test'". Rocket Lab. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (7 August 2017). "Telemetry glitch kept first Electron rocket from reaching orbit". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (21 January 2018). "Rocket Lab delivers nanosatellites to orbit on first successful test launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Berger, Eric (24 January 2018). "Rocket Lab launched a secret payload into space last weekend". Ars Technica. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Rocket Lab Electron Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (1 December 2017). "Rocket Lab to launch second orbital-class rocket as soon as next week". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ Rocket Lab USA (23 January 2018). "Rocket Lab successfully circularizes orbit with new Electron kick stage". rocketlabusa.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ Reidy, Madison (11 December 2017). "Rocket Lab launch canceled six minutes into window". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (12 December 2017). "Electron countdown aborted at engine start, next launch attempt Wednesday". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 19 January 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Holly (21 January 2018). "Blast off! Rocket Lab successfully reaches orbit". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Clark, Stephen. "Rocket Lab's test launch carried two previously-unannounced passengers". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ a b c Clark, Stephen (6 April 2018). "Rocket Lab preps for first commercial satellite launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ Grush, Loren (4 April 2018). "Rocket Lab sets date for first commercial launch of its Electron rocket". The Verge. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "CICERO (Community Initiative for Continuing Earth Radio Occultation) pathfinder mission". eoPortal. European Space Agency. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Gebhardt, Chris (25 May 2018). "Rocket Lab announces new launch date, payloads for "It's Business Time" Electron flight". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Rocket Lab sets new target date for first operational launch". Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (23 June 2018). "Ground antenna problem scrubs Rocket Lab's first commercial launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ Gebhardt, Chris (26 June 2018). "Rocket Lab scrubs latest attempt at first operational Electron launch with five payload elements". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (28 June 2018). "Rocket Lab's first commercial launch grounded to fix nagging technical issue". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ @rocketlab (30 October 2018). "It's Business Time! The nine day launch window for #ItsBusinessTime opens 11 November, NZDT. Daily launch opportunities between 16:00 - 20:00 NZDT (03:00 - 07:00 UTC). Electron is ready. The team is primed. Let's go to orbit" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Rocket Lab prepares to launch historic CubeSat mission for NASA Rocket Lab press release.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ Burghardt, Thomas (15 December 2018). "Rocket Lab Electron launches ELaNa-XIX mission – NASASpaceFlight.com". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Rocket Lab completes fit check for NASA VCLS ELaNa XIX mission". Rocket Lab. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ O'Callaghan, Jonathan. "Rocket Lab's First Launch Of 2019 Will Be A Mission For DARPA". Forbes. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "DARPA R3D2". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ Rocket Lab to launch dedicated Electron mission for DARPA Rocket Labs press release.
- ^ "Rocket Lab launches dedicated DARPA mission on Electron". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "R3D2". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ Foust, Jeff; January 23, SpaceNews Writer |; ET, 2019 07:19am. "Rocket Lab to Launch DARPA Satellite in February". Space.com. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Rocket Lab [@RocketLab] (4 April 2019). "We've made a tradition of giving every Electron rocket its own unique name. Our next mission is for the Space Test Program, which is based in New Mexico. That location might just have been the inspiration for this vehicle name and mission patch....#ThatsAFunnyLookingCactus" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 May 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Atkinson, Ian (5 May 2019). "Rocket Lab launches STP-27RD test satellite trio for the DoD – NASASpaceFlight.com". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to launch Air Force satellites". spacenews.com. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab successfully launches three R&D satellites to orbit for the U.S. Air Force". rocketlabusa.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ Burghardt, Thomas (28 June 2019). "Rocket Lab conducts Spaceflight Inc. Rideshare Mission with Electron launch – NASASpaceFlight.com". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Pietrobon, Steven. "New Zealand Launch Record (2009 to present)". Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ a b "BlackSky Global 1, ..., 60". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Spaceflight To Launch Smallsats for Canon Electronics, BlackSky, and Others on Three Upcoming Rocket Lab Missions". Black Sky. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "MAKE IT RAIN Press Kit JUNE 2019" (PDF). Rocket Lab. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- ^ "SpaceBEE 5, 6, 7, 8, 9". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (17 June 2019). "Rocket Lab's next launch will loft cluster of satellites on Spaceflight rideshare". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (19 August 2019). "Rocket Lab Electron Booster Launches 4 Satellites into Orbit – Space.com". space.com. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen. "Rocket Lab launch fulfills initial block of BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ^ "BRO 1 (Breizh Reconnaissance Orbiter)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to launch dedicated mission for Astro Digital". Rocket Lab USA.
- ^ "PALISADE". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Astro Digital: Space-Based Solutions". Astro Digital. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/palisade.htm
- ^ https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/10/17/rocket-lab-delivers-on-dedicated-launch-for-astro-digital/
- ^ Mission: "Running out of Fingers". Rocket Lab.
- ^ a b c "Next Generation Electron Booster on the Pad for Rocket Lab's 10th Mission". Rocket Lab USA.
- ^ "NEXT MISSION: RUNNING OUT OF FINGERS". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ Corbett, Tobias (6 December 2019). "Rocket Lab launches 10th Electron flight – critical step towards booster recovery". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ Sampson, Ben (9 December 2019). "Rocket Lab successfully flight tests re-entry of rocket booster". Aerospace Testing International. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Debuts Fully Autonomous Flight Termination System". spaceref.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen. "Rocket Lab successfully launches NRO satellite". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ @RocketLab (13 June 2020). "We're readjusting the T-0 for cumulus cloud. New T-0 set for 05:12 UTC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Jonathan's Space Report No. 779". planet4589.org. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-us-spy-satellites-launch-june-2020-webcast.html
- ^ a b "Don't Stop Me Now". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Rocket Lab's Next Mission to Launch Satellites for NASA, NRO and the University of New South Wales". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab's second mission for 2020 delayed as high winds cancel launch". TVNZ. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/03/rocket-lab-aims-for-saturday-launch-in-new-zealand-closes-in-on-first-mission-from-virginia/
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Demonstrate Fastest Launch Turnaround to Date". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Pics or It Didn't Happen: The Rocket Lab Launch of Five Ne..." Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Mission Fails to Reach Orbit". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Resume Electron Launches in August". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (31 July 2020). "Rocket Lab blames Electron launch failure on electrical problem". SpaceNews. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/03/rocket-lab-aims-for-saturday-launch-in-new-zealand-closes-in-on-first-mission-from-virginia/
- ^ "Capella Space and Rocket Lab to Launch Mid-Inclination Satellite to Enable Improved Monitoring of Key Global Regions". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to send Capella radar satellite to mid-inclination orbit". SpaceNews.com. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Rocket Lab [@RocketLab] (5 March 2020). "The launch paves the way for reliable and persistent imagery of anywhere on the globe, day or night, in any weather. Capella can detect sub-0.5 m changes on Earth's surface, providing insights that can be used for security, agricultural and infrastructure monitoring + disaster response" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rocket Lab Launches First In-house Designed & Built Photon Satellite". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab To Launch Commercial Earth-Imaging Rideshare Mission For Planet, Canon Electronics". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ @RocketLab (28 October 2020). "LOX fill is well underway at LC-1, with just under three hours to launch" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/03/rocket-lab-aims-for-saturday-launch-in-new-zealand-closes-in-on-first-mission-from-virginia/
- ^ "Rocket Lab demonstrates flexible in-space transportation with new Kick Stage maneuver". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ @RocketLab (28 October 2020). "LOX fill is well underway at LC-1, with just under three hours to launch" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to attempt booster recovery on next mission". Spaceflight Now. 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ @RocketLab (15 December 2020). "Just under four hours to lift-off for today's #TheOwlsNightBegins. Here are the details for today's dedicated launch to orbit for Synspective" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Launch Dedicated Mission for Japanese Earth Imaging Company Synspective". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "GMS-T". Gunter's Space Page. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Rocket Lab launches secretive communications satellite for OHB". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron mission, deploys seven satellites to orbit". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Rocket Lab to Demonstrate Fastest Launch Turnaround to Date". rocketlabusa.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Rocket Lab's U.S. launch site nears completion". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (15 February 2020). "Rocket Lab wins contract to launch NASA lunar cubesat mission". Spacenews. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ "How To Catch A Rocket From Space With A Helicopter (Peter Beck Interview, April 2020)".
- ^ a b Rocket Lab [@RocketLab] (18 June 2020). "Q2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Rocket Lab [@RocketLab] (18 June 2020). "Get ready for back-to-back missions from LC-1A & LC-1B. We're proud to announce we're launching a pair of missions for @NatReconOfc from our two separate pads at Launch Complex-1. This is responsive access to space in action for small sats" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Rocket Lab to launch It's Business Time and ELaNa XIX missions weeks apart" (Press release). Rocket Lab. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Electron". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Spaceflight To Launch Smallsats for Canon Electronics, BlackSky, and Others on Three Upcoming Rocket Lab Missions". Spaceflight. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "CE-SAT 1 / CE-SAT 1 Mk.2". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "CE-SAT 2". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ a b "MCNAIR". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Flock-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ "Flock-1, -1b, -1c, -1d, -1d', -1e, -1f, -2, -2b, -2c, -2d, -2e, -2e', -2k, -2p, -3m, -3p, -3p', -3r, -3s". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ Northon, Karen (12 July 2019). "NASA Funds Demo of 3D-Printed Parts Made, Assembled in Orbit". nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.