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[Hold] Watch: Launch of Rocket Lab's Second "Electron" Rocket on Dec. 7

Accepted submission by takyon at 2017-12-03 13:31:36
Techonomics

Rocket Lab to launch second orbital-class rocket as soon as next week [spaceflightnow.com]

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is designed to carry small satellites to orbit, targeting a market niche microsatellite owners say is currently under-served by larger, more expensive boosters. Using nine first stage engines and a single upper stage powerplant, the rocket can deliver up to 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of payload to at 310-mile-high (500-kilometer) sun-synchronous polar orbit.

The upcoming launch will be the second by an Electron rocket. The Electron's inaugural test flight May 25 reached space after a successful first stage burn and second stage ignition, but a data reception error with ground tracking equipment prompted an early termination of the mission for safety reasons.

[...] Backed by U.S. and New Zealand venture capital funds, and investment from the New Zealand government and U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab says it will sell future Electron rocket missions for $4.9 million per flight. The Electron is sized to provide a dedicated ride for small satellites that today must ride piggyback on bigger launchers.

Rocket Lab [wikipedia.org].

Previously: Rocket Lab Unveils "Electric" Rocket Engine [soylentnews.org]
Moon Express and Rocket Lab Team Up for 2017 Lunar Mission [soylentnews.org]
New Companies Begin to Target the Micro-Satellite Market [soylentnews.org]
"Planet" Purchases 3 Launches from "Rocket Lab" [soylentnews.org]
Rocket Lab Makes Suborbital Launch From New Zealand [soylentnews.org]

Related: Vector Space Completes First Test Flight, Hoping to Expand the Small Satellite Launch Market [soylentnews.org]
Vector Space Systems Partners With Virginia Space for Launches [soylentnews.org]


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