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Rocket Lab • Electron • Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A (NA)
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Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
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Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
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.
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.
23269866895cea07345e27b4b95100241b45ad9e4c115004fd6429c57a677b7bLinked via Spaceflight News API (SNAPI).
ArticleRocket Lab launched its 28th Electron rocket on the “Wise One Looks Ahead” mission, also designated National Reconnaissance Office Launch (NROL)-162. NROL-16...
ArticleTwo upcoming Rocket Lab launches for the National Reconnaissance Office will send to orbit classified spy satellites that the U.S. intelligence agency develo...
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Wise One Looks Ahead PatchLaunch-stage and landing context surfaced from LL2 when it exists.
Expended during its first flight.
