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List of Electron launches

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Launch of Electron in start of the "Birds of a Feather" mission.

Electron is a two-stage small-lift launch vehicle built and operated by Rocket Lab. The rocket has been launched to orbit 53 times with 49 successes and four failures. A suborbital version of the rocket, HASTE, has been successfully launched one time.

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. Flight 26 was the first Electron flight to attempt a full catch recovery using a mid-air helicopter catch. "Scout's Arrow" was the first suborbital launch of the rocket.

In July 2019, Rocket Lab expected to have launches every two weeks in 2020.[1] In June 2020, with a new Electron launch vehicle built every 18 days, Rocket Lab was planning to deliver monthly launches for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021, including the company's first launch from Wallops LC-2 in 2023 and a mission to the Moon for NASA aboard Electron and Rocket Lab's spacecraft bus platform Photon in 2022.[2]

Launch statistics

[edit]

Orbital launches

[edit]

2017–2018

[edit]

Electron launched for the first time in May 2017,[3] but the rocket was destroyed by the range safety officer after a telemetry loss, which was later attributed to a ground software failure.[4][5] Electron experienced its first successful launch in January 2018,[6] and launched their first mission for NASA in December 2018.[7][8]

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),[9] the telemetry feed to the range safety officer was lost and the rocket was destroyed by range safety officer.[4][5] Post-flight analysis determined the issue to be a simple ground software failure rather than a problem with the rocket.[4] The ground software issue was found to be a contractor's failure to enable forward error correction on their hardware leading to data corruption.[4][5] Rocket Lab made no changes to the Electron vehicle and instead implemented adjustment to procedures to prevent similar problems.[4]
2 "Still Testing" 21 January 2018, 01:43[6] Mahia, LC-1A
13 kg (29 lb)[11] 400 km, 82.9° 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).[9][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
  • Spire Global
  • GeoOptics
  • Irvine CubeSat STEM Program
  • High Performance Space Structure Systems
  • Fleet Space Technologies
 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[7] Mahia, LC-1A
78 kg (172 lb)[29] 500 km, 85° LEO NASA[30] Success No attempt
Multiple CubeSats for the NASA-sponsored ELaNa-19 mission.[30] They were deployed from RailPOD dispensers. Was the first NASA mission for Rocket Lab.[8]

2019

[edit]

Electron launched 6 times, all successfully, in 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"[31] 28 March 2019, 23:27[31] Mahia, LC-1A R3D2[32] 150 kg (330 lb)[33] 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.[34] Northrop Grumman serves as the prime contractor for R3D2. Blue Canyon Technologies provided the satellite bus, MMA Design provided the antenna.[35]
6 "That's a Funny Looking Cactus"[36] 5 May 2019, 06:00[37] Mahia, LC-1A
180 kilograms (400 lb)[37] 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.[38] Was first night launch of an Electron and its heaviest payload up to the time.[39]
7 "Make it Rain" 29 June 2019, 04:30[40] Mahia, LC-1A
[41][42][43] 		80 kilograms (180 lb)[44] 450 km, 45° LEO
Success No attempt
BlackSky Global 3 is part of a constellation of Earth-observing satellites.[42][43] 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).[45][46]
8 "Look Ma, No Hands" 19 August 2019, 12:12[47] Mahia, LC-1A
  • Breizh Recon Orbiter (BRO-1)
  • BlackSky Global 4
  • Experimental Satellites x 2
[48] 		Approx. 80 kilograms (180 lb)[11] 510 km, 94.8° 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.[48][49]
9 "As the Crow Flies" 17 October 2019, 01:22[50] Mahia, LC-1A
Palisade[51]
Approx. 20 kilograms (44 lb)[11] 1200 km, 87.9° LEO
Astro Digital[52]
Success No attempt
Palisade is a 16U CubeSat technology demonstrator satellite.[51] An upgraded, bi-propellant kick stage lifted the satellite to a 1200 km circular orbit, and then deorbited itself.[53]
10 "Running Out Of Fingers" 6 December 2019, 08:18[54][55] Mahia, LC-1A
[55] 		Approx. 77 kilograms (170 lb)[11] 385 x 400 km, 97°LEO
Success Controlled (atmosphere test)
ATL-1 tests thermal insulation in space. FossaSat-1 is a communications satellite that uses low-power radio frequencies to provide internet connectivity. NOOR-1A and NOOR-1B demonstrated intersatellite link technology. SMOG-P uses a spectrum analyzer to measure electromagnetic pollution. TRSI Sat provides flight tracking services. ALE-2 creates artificial shooting star displays.[55] 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.[56][57] After the launch Rocket Lab said that the reusability tests were successful.[58]

First flight of Electron with a fully autonomous flight termination system on the rocket.[59]

2020

[edit]

First launch for the National Reconnaissance Office in January 2020.

First launch of Photon kickstage in August 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[60] 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 that their reusability test was successful.[60]
12 "Don't Stop Me Now" 13 June 2020,
05:12:12[61] 		Mahia, LC-1A
  • Classified payloads x 3 (USA-301, 302, 303) (NRO)
  • ANDESITE
  • RAAF M2PF (Pathfinder)
 Classified 570*590 km, 97.75° LEO NRO, Boston University / NASA and University of New South Wales Canberra Space and the Royal Australian Air Force.[62] Success No attempt[63]
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.[64][65] Rocket Lab does not plan to do any recovery testing.[65] Flight delayed due to COVID-19.[64] A launch attempt on 11 June 2020 was canceled due to bad weather.[66] 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.[62]
13 "Pics Or It Didn't Happen" 4 July 2020
21:19:36 		Mahia, LC-1A
  • CE-SAT-IB
  • SuperDove x 5
  • Faraday 1
 Approx. 75 kg (165 lb) 500 km, 97.5° SSO
Failure No attempt[67]
Flight No. 13's name was "Pics Or It Didn't Happen".[2] The 5 SuperDoves were part of Planet's Flock 4e.[68] Flight failed during 2nd stage burn.[69][70] 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.[71] No changes were made to the vehicle but changes were made to "work instructions and quality signoffs".[72]
14 "I Can't Believe It's Not Optical" 31 August 2020
03:05:47[73] 		Mahia, LC-1A
100 kg 500 km, 45° LEO Capella Space Success No attempt[67]
Return to flight of Electron after the 4 July 2020 launch failure.[74][75] Launch of a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite, for global imagery.[76] Also launched the Photon satellite bus.[77]
15 "In Focus"[78] 28 October 2020
21:21:27[79] 		Mahia, LC-1A
  • SuperDove x 9
  • CE-SAT-IIB
 72 kg 500 km, 97.5° SSO
Success No attempt[67]
After satellite deployed kick stage changed orbital inclination.[80]
16 "Return To Sender"[81] 20 November 2020
02:20:01[79] 		Mahia, LC-1A
  • Dragracer A
  • Dragracer B
  • BRO-2
  • BRO-3
  • APSS-1 (Te Waka Āmiorangi o Aotearoa) (Auckland Program for Space Systems)
  • SpaceBEE x 24
  • Gnome Chompski (garden gnome mass simulator)
 200 kg 500 km, 97.3° SSO
Success Success (Ocean landing)
First Electron to attempt a soft ocean landing by parachute with the booster and recovery by vessel.[82]
17 "The Owl's Night Begins"[83] 15 December 2020
10:09:27[84] 		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.[85] First of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]

2021

[edit]

First launch for US Space Force in July 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[87] 		Mahia, LC-1A GMS-T[88] ~50 kg 1200 km, 90° LEO OHB Success No attempt
Dedicated mission for OHB, the launch occurred six months after the contract signing with Rocket Lab and OHB.[89]
19 "They Go Up So Fast" 22 March 2021
22:30[90] 		Mahia, LC-1A
  • BlackSky Global 9
  • Centauri 3
  • Myriota 7
  • Veery Hatchling
  • RAAF-M2 A, B
  • Gunsmoke-J
  • Photon (Pathstone)[91]
 Unknown 450 km and 550km, 45° LEO
Success[90] No attempt
During this mission, Rocket Lab deployed their 100th satellite to orbit. As well as their second Photon satellite bus named Pathstone. Photon Pathstone will operate on orbit as a risk reduction demonstration to build spacecraft heritage ahead of Rocket Lab's mission to the Moon for NASA later this year, as well as Rocket Lab's private mission to Venus in 2025.[90]
20 "Running Out Of Toes" 15 May 2021
11:11[92] 		Mahia, LC-1A BlackSky-10, BlackSky-11 120 kg 430 km, 50° LEO BlackSky via Spaceflight Industries, Inc. Failure[93][94] Success (Ocean landing)[95]
Second launch to attempt booster recovery (via ocean landing), using an advanced heat shield based on lessons learned from the first recovered Electron booster.[96] First of four 2021 launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites.[97] Second stage engine shut down early causing the mission to be lost, but Electron's first stage safely completed a successful splashdown under parachute. The investigation revealed that the second stage igniter fault induced an interference with the engine controller that caused the data signal corruption for the thrust vector control (TVC) system, straying the vehicle off course.[98]
21 "It's A Little Chile Up Here" 29 July 2021
06:00[99] 		Mahia, LC-1A Monolith Unknown 600 km, 37° LEO U.S. Space Force Success No attempt
The launch was originally scheduled to fly from LC-2 in Wallops in 2020, but NASA didn't certify the autonomous flight termination system (AFTS) in time.[100] Because of these delays, the launch was moved to LC-1 as the return to flight after the anomaly Electron experienced during the "Running Out Of Toes" mission in May 2021.
22 "Love At First Insight" 18 November 2021
01:38:13[101][102] 		Mahia, LC-1A BlackSky-14, BlackSky-15 120 kg 430 km, 42°LEO BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. Success Success (Ocean landing)[103]
Second of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021. Mission was named "Love At First Insight". The first stage booster performed a soft ocean splashdown under parachute. For the first time, a helicopter tracked and observed Electron's descent in preparation for future missions which aim to use helicopters to intercept and capture returning launch vehicle boosters mid-air as they return to Earth under parachute. The launch vehicle also flew with an advanced parachute deployed from the first stage at a higher altitude then previous recovery attempts and an improved heat shield.[104]
23 "A Data With Destiny" 9 December 2021 00:02[105] Mahia, LC-1A BlackSky-12 Gen-2, BlackSky-13 Gen-2 120 kg 430 km, 42°LEO BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. Success No attempt
Third of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021.[102] This mission set a new turnaround record between Electron launches at just 20 days.

2022

[edit]
Flight

No.

Name Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Payload Mass Destination Customer(s) Launch outcome Booster recovery
24 "The Owl's Night Continues" 28 February 2022
20:37[106] 		Mahia, LC-1B StriX-β ~150 kg 561 km, 97° SSO Synspective Success No attempt
Inaugural launch from Launch Complex 1 Pad B. Second of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
25 "Without Mission A Beat" 2 April 2022
12:41[107] 		Mahia, LC-1A BlackSky-14 Gen-2, BlackSky-15 Gen-2 ~120 kg 430 km, 53° LEO BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. Success No attempt
Last of four launches to carry two BlackSky Global Gen 2 satellites in 2021 and 2022.
26 "There And Back Again" 2 May 2022
22:49[108] 		Mahia, LC-1A
  • TRSI-2 & TRSI-3
  • MyRadar-1
  • Unicorn-2
  • Copia
  • AuroraSat-1
  • E-Space Demo (3 satellites)
  • SpaceBEE (24 satellites)
  • BRO-6
 Unknown 520 km, 94° SSO
Success Partial failure (aerial capture)
Deployed 34 satellites for six customers. First mid-air helicopter capture attempt of an Electron first stage following launch. Electron was initially captured by the helicopter, but the pilot detected different load characteristics than previously experienced in testing and offloaded the stage for a splashdown, where it was recovered by Rocket Lab's contracted offshore vessel, Seaworker as in previous ocean landings.[108]
27 "CAPSTONE" 28 June 2022
09:55[109] 		Mahia, LC-1B
80 kg TLI to NRHO
Success No attempt
Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) is a CubeSat mission that will serve as a precursor for the planned Gateway. It used Photon to place CAPSTONE on a trajectory to the Moon. CAPSTONE will move into a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) after separation from Photon.[110] Due to the heavy nature of the payload, the first stage was stripped down to its bare frame with no recovery hardware and no cameras. The recovery hardware itself takes about 10-15% of the payload mass capabilities of a given launch.[111]
28 "Wise One Looks Ahead". 13 July 2022
06:30[112] 		Mahia, LC-1A NROL-162 (RASR-3)[113] Classified 620 km, 40° LEO NRO Success No attempt
First of two "Responsive Space Missions" NRO launches. Back to back launches between Pad A and B.[113]
29 "Antipodean Adventure" 4 August 2022
05:00[114] 		Mahia, LC-1B NROL-199 (RASR-4) Classified 620 km, 70°LEO NRO Success No attempt
Second of two "Responsive Space Missions" NRO launches. Back to back launches between Pad A and B.[113]
30 "The Owl Spreads Its Wings" 15 September 2022
20:38[115] 		Mahia, LC-1B StriX-1 ~100 kg 563 km, 97°SSO Synspective Success No attempt
Third of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86] StriX-1 is the 150th satellite deployed by Rocket Lab.[116]
31 "It Argos Up From Here" 7 October 2022
17:09[117] 		Mahia, LC-1B GAzelle (Argos-4)[118] 118 kg 750 km 98° SSO NOAA / CNES Success No attempt
First launch for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. The GAzelle satellite carries the Argos-4 Advanced Data Collection System hosted payload.[119]
32 "Catch Me If You Can" 4 November 2022
17:27[120] 		Mahia, LC-1B MATS 50 kg 585 km, 97.66° SSO SNSA & OHB Sweden Success Partial failure (aerial capture)
Launch of MATS atmospheric research satellite for the Swedish National Space Agency. Second attempt at mid-air helicopter recovery of first stage, however due to telemetry loss from the first stage during its descent, it was not safe for the helicopter to loiter in the capture zone, so it backed off. Stage made a soft ocean landing and was recovered by Rocket Lab's contracted offshore vessel, Seaworker as in previous ocean landings.[121]

2023

[edit]
Flight

No.

Name Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Payload Mass Destination Customer(s) Launch outcome Booster recovery
33 "Virginia Is For Launch Lovers" 24 January 2023
23:00[122] 		MARS, LC-2 HawkEye 360 Cluster 6 (3 satellites)[123] 40 kg 550 km, 40.5° LEO HawkEye 360 Success No attempt
First launch from Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops. Launch of the first 3 of the 15 satellites contracted with HawkEye 360.[124]
34 "Stronger Together" 16 March 2023 22:39[125] MARS, LC-2 Capella 9, Capella 10 224 kg 600 km, 44° LEO Capella Space Success No attempt
Dedicated launch for Capella Space.
35 "The Beat Goes On" 24 March 2023 09:14[126] Mahia, LC-1B BlackSky-18 Gen-2, BlackSky 19 Gen-2 ~120 kg 450 km, 42° LEO BlackSky via Spaceflight Inc. Success Success (Ocean landing)
Dedicated launch for BlackSky.
36 "Rocket Like A Hurricane" 8 May 2023 01:00[127] Mahia, LC-1B TROPICS × 2 10 kg 550 km, 32° LEO NASA Success No attempt
First of two TROPICS missions awarded to Rocket Lab after a prior mission awarded to competing launch provider Astra failed to orbit.[128] The TROPICS mission consists of four (formerly six) CubeSats intended for two (formerly three) low-Earth orbital planes at an inclination of 30 degrees. Due to the light weight of the payload and the target orbit, the second stage completed the orbital insertion while the kick stage was used to perform a plane change burn to the target inclination.
37 "Coming to a Storm Near You" 26 May 2023 03:46[129] Mahia, LC-1B TROPICS × 2 10 kg 550 km, 32° LEO NASA Success No attempt
Second of two TROPICS missions awarded to Rocket Lab after a prior mission awarded to competing launch provider Astra failed to orbit.[128]
39 "Baby Come Back" 18 July 2023 01:27[130] Mahia, LC-1B
~86 kg[131] 1000 km, 99.45° SSO
Success Success (Ocean landing)
The LEO 3 demonstration satellite will provide continuity for customer and ecosystem vendor testing campaigns following the decommissioning of Telesat's Phase 1 LEO satellite. This mission tested out new reusability technologies, including improved water sealing, a lighter parachute, and new hardware on the recovery vessel.[132]
40 "We Love The Nightlife" 23 August 2023 23:45[133] Mahia, LC-1B Acadia 1 ~165 kg 640 km, 53° LEO Capella Space Success Success (Ocean landing)[134]
First of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. For the first time on this mission, Rocket Lab is reusing a Rutherford engine from another mission launched in May 2022 "There And Back Again".[135]
41 "We Will Never Desert You" 19 September 2023 06:55[136] Mahia, LC-1B Acadia 2[137] ~165 kg 640 km, 53° LEO Capella Space Failure No attempt
Second of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites.[135] An anomaly occurred after stage separation, which resulted in a failure to orbit. Due to a sharp change of voltage from 420V to 508V due to an arc leading to a short in the power system that is used for motor controls caused in the near vacuum of space as a result of phenomenon of Paschen's law in T+151 to T+152.66 seconds.[138]
42 "The Moon God Awakens" 15 December 2023 04:05[139] Mahia, LC-1B QPS-SAR-5 (TSUKUYOMI-I) ~100 kg 575 km, 42° LEO iQPS Success No attempt
The satellite was previously manifested as a LauncherOne payload. After Virgin Orbit's bankruptcy and shutdown, the payload was transferred to Electron.[140] This mission was Electron's return to launch after a failure due to a second stage issue occurring in the previous mission ("We Will Never Desert You") on September 19.[141]

2024

[edit]
Flight

No.

Name Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Payload Mass Destination Customer(s) Launch outcome Booster recovery
43 "Four Of A Kind" 31 January 2024
06:34[142] 		Mahia, LC-1B Skylark × 4 ~112 kg[143] 530 km, 97° LEO Spire Global and NorthStar Earth & Space Success Success (Ocean landing)
Dedicated launch for Spire Global.
44 "On Closer Inspection" 18 February 2024
14:52[144] 		Mahia, LC-1B ADRAS-J 150 kg 600 km, 98° SSO Astroscale Success No attempt
The Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite will rendezvous with a spent Japanese H-2A upper stage launch vehicle body in low Earth orbit and demonstrate proximity operations in preparation for a future de-orbiting mission. Due to the special mission requirements, Electron had a near instantaneous launch window.[145]
45 "Owl Night Long" 12 March 2024
15:03[146] 		Mahia, LC-1B StriX-3 100 kg 561 km, 97° SSO Synspective Success No attempt
Fourth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
46 "Live and Let Fly" 21 March 2024
07:25[147] 		MARS, LC-2 NROL-123 (4 Payloads)[148] Classified LEO National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Success No attempt
The NROL-123 mission, was Rocket Lab’s first launch for the NRO from the United States after previously launching four NRO missions from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.
47 "Beginning Of The Swarm" 23 April 2024
22:32[149] 		Mahia, LC-1B
  • NeonSat-1
  • ACS3
 ~115 kg 520 km Neonsat-1, 1.000km ACS3, 97° SSO
Success No attempt
Rideshare mission including NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3).
48 "Ready, Aim, PREFIRE" 25 May 2024
07:41[150] 		Mahia, LC-1B PREFIRE 1 ~15 kg 525 km 97.5° SSO NASA Success No attempt
First of two launches for NASA's PREFIRE mission.
49 "PREFIRE And Ice" 5 June 2024
03:15[151] 		Mahia, LC-1B PREFIRE 2 ~15 kg 525 km 97.5° SSO NASA Success No attempt
Second of two launches for NASA's PREFIRE mission.
50 "No Time Toulouse" 20 June 2024
18:13[152] 		Mahia, LC-1B Kinéis × 5 150 kg 635 km 98° SSO Kinéis Success No attempt
First of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation. Electron 50th mission.
51 "Owl For One, One For Owl" 2 August 2024
16:39[153] 		Mahia, LC-1B StriX-4 100 kg 543 km, 43° LEO Synspective Success No attempt
Fifth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[153]
52 "A Sky Full Of SARs" 11 August 2024
13:18[154] 		Mahia, LC-1B Acadia 3 165 kg 615 km, 53° LEO Capella Space Success No attempt
Third of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites.
53 "Kinéis Killed The RadIoT Star" 20 September 2024
23:01[155] 		Mahia, LC-1A Kinéis × 5 150 kg 643 km 98° LEO Kinéis Success No attempt
Second of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation.[156] First launch from LC-1A since July 2022.
54 "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes" 5 November 2024
10:54[157] 		Mahia, LC-1B Unknown Classified SSO E-Space Success No attempt
Launch of a yet to identified satellite to SSO for an undisclosed customer. The customer is suspected to be Low Earth Orbit communication satellite constellation operator E-Space.[158] Launch contract was signed less than 2 months before launch.

Upcoming orbital launches

[edit]

2024

[edit]
Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Planned
destination 		Customer
21 November 2024[159][160] Mahia, LC-1 Kinéis × 5 LEO Kinéis
"Ice Ais Baby" Mission. Third of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation.[156]
Net December 2024[161] Mahia, LC-1 BlackSky Gen-3 × ? LEO BlackSky
First of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites.

2025

[edit]
Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Planned
destination 		Customer
2025[86] Mahia, LC-1 StriX SSO Synspective
Sixth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025[162] Mahia, LC-1 Acadia × 1 LEO Capella Space
Fourth of four dedicated launches for Capella Space with Acadia satellites. Includes an option to move any of the missions to MARS LC-2.[135]
NET 2025[159][160] Mahia, LC-1 Kinéis × 5 LEO Kinéis
Fourth of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation.[156]
NET 2025[159][160] Mahia, LC-1 Kinéis × 5 LEO Kinéis
Fifth of five dedicated launches for Kinéis' IoT satellite constellation.[156]
2025[163] Mahia, LC-1 Hawk × 6 LEO HawkEye 360
First of two dedicated launches for HawkEye 360.
2025[164] Unknown Hawk × 6 LEO HawkEye 360
Second of two dedicated launches for HawkEye 360.
NET 2025[161] Mahia, LC-1 BlackSky Gen-3 × ? LEO BlackSky
Second of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites.
NET 2025[161] Mahia, LC-1 BlackSky Gen-3 × ? LEO BlackSky
Third of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites.
NET 2025[161] Mahia, LC-1 BlackSky Gen-3 × ? LEO BlackSky
Fourth of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites.
NET 2025[161] Mahia, LC-1 BlackSky Gen-3 × ? LEO BlackSky
Fifth of five dedicated launches for BlackSky's 3rd generation satellites.
Q4 2025[165] Mahia, LC-1 LOXSAT1 SSO Eta Space
Cryogenic fluid management technology demonstration for a future propellant depot.
NET 2025[166] Mahia, LC-1 Venus Life Finder[167] Heliocentric Rocket Lab
Private Venus exploration mission, using an atmospheric-entry probe developed jointly with MIT. A Photon relay satellite will perform a flyby of Venus in order to relay the data from the atmospheric-entry probe.
NET 2025[168] MARS, LC-2 DISKSat VLEO U.S. Space Force
The mission, called Space Test Program-30 (STP-S30), is a launch scheduled to take place within 24 months from contract award[168] to demonstrate Rocket Lab's responsive space program.
NLT fall 2025[169] LC-1 or LC-2 Pioneer derived satellite LEO U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command
Mission for SSC. Rocket Lab will build and launch a satellite for TacRS (Tactically Responsive Space). Once on orbit, the spacecraft will conduct a variety of dynamic space operations to demonstrate SDA characterization capabilities with True Anomaly’s spacecraft, the Jackal autonomous orbital vehicle.[170]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
Seventh of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation, and the first of a renewed contract of 10 additional dedicated launches signed in June 2024.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
Eighth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
Ninth of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
10th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
11th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
12th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
13th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
14th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
15th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]
2025–2027 Mahia, LC-1 StriX LEO Synspective
16th of 16 dedicated launches for Synspective's StriX constellation.[86]

Suborbital launches (HASTE)

[edit]

Completed launches

[edit]
Flight

No.

Name Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Payload Mass Apogee Customer(s) Launch outcome Booster recovery
38[171] "Scout's Arrow" 18 June 2023 01:24[172] MARS, LC-2 DYNAMO-A Classified Unknown Dynetics Success No attempt
Part of Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program.[172]

Planned launches

[edit]

Per the Q3 2023 investor presentation, there are currently 2 HASTE launches planned for 2024, one in Q3 and one in Q4.

Date/time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Apogee Customer
NET 2024 MARS, LC-2 Unknown Unknown Leidos
First of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project.[173]
NET 2024 MARS, LC-2 Unknown Unknown Leidos
Second of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project.
NET 2024 MARS, LC-2 Unknown Unknown Confidential
The launch deal was signed with a confidential customer just days after the first HASTE launch took place.[174]
NET April 2025 [175] MARS, LC-2 DART AE Unknown DIU
This mission will deploy a payload from Hypersonix called DART AE, DART AE is a scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle capable of speeds up to Mach 7. This mission will also demonstrate HASTE's direct inject capabilities. Direct inject means that the payload will be deployed while the rocket is still ascending.[176]
NET 2025 MARS, LC-2 Unknown Unknown Leidos
Third of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project.
NET 2025 MARS, LC-2 Unknown Unknown Leidos
Fourth of four sub-Orbital launches for Leidos under the MACH-TB project.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  133. ^ Foust, Jeff (23 August 2023). "Rocket Lab reuses engine on Electron launch". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  134. ^ "Electron | We Love the Nightlife (Capella Acadia 1)".
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  137. ^ @capellaspace (14 September 2023). "The Acadia-2 mission patch is here! The nocturnal Fennec fox has large ears to sense prey in its native desert environment. Capella's growing #SAR constellation senses targets day or night, regardless of weather conditions, for consistent & reliable insights #WeWillNeverDesertYou" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2023 – via Twitter.
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  143. ^ "Spire Earth Observations" (PDF). Spire Global. 6 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  144. ^ Wall, Mike (18 February 2024). "Rocket Lab launches ADRAS-J space junk inspection satellite for Astroscale (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  145. ^ "Rocket Lab Sets Launch Window for Astroscale Orbital Debris Inspection Demonstration Mission". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  146. ^ Wall, Mike (12 March 2024). "Rocket Lab launches a commercial radar-imaging satellite in dramatic night launch (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  147. ^ Wall, Mike (21 March 2024). "Rocket Lab launches mysterious spy satellites in 4th-ever US liftoff (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  148. ^ McDowell, Jonathan [@planet4589] (22 March 2024). "Space-Track has now cataloged the NROL-123 Electron launch. There are actually FOUR payloads: "USA 352", MOLA, Aerocube 16A and Aerocube 16B. (Likely the earlier statement of 3 implies that AC-16A/B were deployed attached to each other and then separated?)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  149. ^ "Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos)". Space.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  150. ^ "Rocket Lab launches NASA cubesat to study heat lost from Earth's poles". Space.com. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  151. ^ "Rocket Lab launches 2nd shoebox-sized climate satellite for NASA (video)". Space.com. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  152. ^ "Rocket Lab launches 5 IoT satellites on landmark 50th mission". Space.com. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
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  154. ^ "Rocket Lab launches sharp-eyed private radar satellite to orbit". Space.com. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  155. ^ "Rocket Lab launches 5 'Internet of Things' satellites to orbit". Space.com. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
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  157. ^ "Rocket Lab launches mystery mission on company's 12th launch of 2024 (video)". Space.com. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
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  162. ^ Sheetz, Michael (28 February 2023). "Rocket Lab quarterly revenue stays steady as space company doubles order backlog". CNBC. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Alongside its results, Rocket Lab announced a contract for four Electron launches from satellite company Capella Space. Those missions are scheduled to begin in the second half of the year.
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  166. ^ Campbell, Lyle; Philipp, Dahm; Mandy, Christophe; Peterson, Keith; Monk, Josh; Alpert, Hannah (17 May 2023). Rocket Lab Venus - Enabling Low-Cost Interplanetary Missions. International Planetary Probe Workshop. Marseille. 20230007715. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  167. ^ ""Newer, nimbler, faster:" Venus probe will search for signs of life in clouds of sulfuric acid" (Press release). MIT. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
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